Post by Matthias Jensen on Oct 18, 2014 12:35:26 GMT -7
The three Jensen boys arrived with their parents along with the rest of District 10. For Jackson and Aramis Jensen, the process was familiar as they signed in. Aramis ignored his two other brothers and he wandered to his group, picking up a conversation with a large boy who was his best friend. Jackson gave what attempted to be a reassuring smile to the youngest boy, a reminder from their conversation before the reaping to stay strong, before heading off to his own section. For the youngest Jensen, Matthias, the process was only slightly less scary than it had been last year. This was his second year in the reaping, and the normally quiet boy was made even more so by that. They pricked his finger and he made his way to his age group among the boys, feeling more alone than usual. No one greeted him as he took his place.
This year's escort for District 10 walked onstage, some kid no older than many of the potential tributes. The already still crowd became even more still as the boy welcome them and introduced the video. Matthias glanced at the images on the screens, though he had no clue what the words to it were no matter how often he watched it. He was too young to care what it had said before he lost his hearing, and afterward, he was perfectly happy not to know. It was something from the Capitol, something to keep them contained and submissive. The very images themselves told that story, bringing up the history that started the Hunger Games. He knew enough about it through reading, and was glad to be the one person among them who was spared the repetition of it. On such rare occasions, being deaf was a perk.
The movie ended, and though the boy couldn't hear him, this is what the escort said. "Now we will see who will have the honor of representing District 10 in the Seventy-three point One Hunger Games. First, the ladies." The boy reached into the bowl containing the names of the girls, and after a moment, pulled out a single sheet of paper. "Caterina Westword," he called out. A girl from the older section of girls was pushed out, her hair honey-colored and her dress a deep burgundy. Everyone watched as she made her way toward the stage. Matthias thought that the way the light caught her and the way she stood - not scared, but somehow strong - was kind of beautiful. Not every new tribute could get up there so well. She made it all the way to the stage without breaking, and wordlessly faced the audience.
"Wonderful. Now for the boys," the escort called. He reached his hand into the other bowl present, fishing around until he pulled out another slip of paper. Bringing it to the microphone, he read, "Matthias Jensen." Though Matthias was raptly watching their escort, wondering who it would be this time, he didn't know it was his own name that was read. Not at first, anyway. As he started to look around for what boy was being called up, he met the gaze of the boys around him. Every single one of them stared at him, a mixture of emotions on their faces. One of the bullies that most favored him grinned, and said so that Matthias could easily read him, "It's you, dummy."
Matthias Jensen felt frozen, felt the literal chill that came as the realization of what was going on started to sink in. No other boy was moving forward. It wasn't a joke. Of the two tiny slips of paper Matthias had entered in this year's reaping, two out of thousands, one of those had been chosen. Some of the boys around him showed genuine pity and pushed him forward gently, actually saving him the embarrassment of being pushed forward by the Peacekeepers. The boy took the hint, moving forward although he wasn't aware at all of telling his legs to walk. A pair of peacekeepers fell in behind him, following him until he ascended the stage to stand on the other side of the escort.
As every child did, Matthias had been plagued by the same nightmares of his name being called before a reaping. Though it was foolish and incredibly selfish, a part of him had always hoped someone would volunteer to take his place if it ever happened. He knew none of his classmates ever would, and many would be happy to see him go. Aramis wouldn't, because half the time he'd rather pretend he only had an older brother. Jackson, though, was kind to him. At 17, Jackson was still eligible this year, his second-to-last time. He was strong, smart and well-liked. He had often translated the world for Matthias and was one of the few people who seemed to really care for him. Ultimately, though, the 13-year-old knew it was better no one took his place. Matthias would have hated himself for the rest of his life if he had been the cause of his older brother's death. Jackson had already dropped out of school to work for a living, and one day, he would inherit the ranch. The Jensen family needed Jackson. They even needed Aramis, because even though he was selfish and mean, Aramis was healthy and strong and could look after himself. The Jensen family didn't need Matthias, the deaf kid who would rather draw the animals than butcher one of them, and who couldn't be trusted to care for animals because he couldn't hear trouble. He had an illness that couldn't be cured, and if the Jensen family had to lose a member, it should be him.
Matthias looked straight ahead at the crowd as he stood on the stage, surprisingly not angry. He was feeling a million other things, all clear on his face, but not anger. He should have seen it coming. The escort next to him smiled at his audience. "May I present the tributes who have the honor of representing District 10 in this year's Hunger Games, Caterina Westword and Matthias Jensen! Now, shake hands, you two, and may the odds be ever in your favor." Matthias wasn't paying any attention to his escort though, and after an uncomfortable pause, Caterina grabbed his hand. It startled him and he turned to look at her. She gave his hand a shake with mild confusion on her pretty face. He could see his escort's face beyond her as the boy started to head inside, with a look on his face that wasn't unfamiliar. He probably thought Matthias was just thick in the head. Caterina turned to follow the escort and a moment later, his face red despite how ridiculous being frustrated by something like that was, Matthias followed after her.
As he headed inside the justice building, Matthias briefly met the gaze of Falro Killian. He had run into the victor not so long ago, when he had chased off some of the bullies who often bothered Matthias. Though scary at first, the man had turned out to be kind. He had actually given Matthias his time, even some respect then. Partway into their first meeting, he had connected the man with this victor, known for his drinking and a formidable person. Any hope at a friendly relationship was probably shattered now. Matthias would now be spending more time with the man, and he doubted that Falro was thrilled about his male tribute. Who would be?
WC: 1254
Tag:@falro (if he wants to) and any other D10er interested!
Notes: It's the last day of reaping week and I wanted to get this post out before we move to trains, etc. I talked to Nuk, and she figured it was best to just go forward without Jeremy. So I made the escort an NPC, who can easily get replaced with one later if we need to.
This year's escort for District 10 walked onstage, some kid no older than many of the potential tributes. The already still crowd became even more still as the boy welcome them and introduced the video. Matthias glanced at the images on the screens, though he had no clue what the words to it were no matter how often he watched it. He was too young to care what it had said before he lost his hearing, and afterward, he was perfectly happy not to know. It was something from the Capitol, something to keep them contained and submissive. The very images themselves told that story, bringing up the history that started the Hunger Games. He knew enough about it through reading, and was glad to be the one person among them who was spared the repetition of it. On such rare occasions, being deaf was a perk.
The movie ended, and though the boy couldn't hear him, this is what the escort said. "Now we will see who will have the honor of representing District 10 in the Seventy-three point One Hunger Games. First, the ladies." The boy reached into the bowl containing the names of the girls, and after a moment, pulled out a single sheet of paper. "Caterina Westword," he called out. A girl from the older section of girls was pushed out, her hair honey-colored and her dress a deep burgundy. Everyone watched as she made her way toward the stage. Matthias thought that the way the light caught her and the way she stood - not scared, but somehow strong - was kind of beautiful. Not every new tribute could get up there so well. She made it all the way to the stage without breaking, and wordlessly faced the audience.
"Wonderful. Now for the boys," the escort called. He reached his hand into the other bowl present, fishing around until he pulled out another slip of paper. Bringing it to the microphone, he read, "Matthias Jensen." Though Matthias was raptly watching their escort, wondering who it would be this time, he didn't know it was his own name that was read. Not at first, anyway. As he started to look around for what boy was being called up, he met the gaze of the boys around him. Every single one of them stared at him, a mixture of emotions on their faces. One of the bullies that most favored him grinned, and said so that Matthias could easily read him, "It's you, dummy."
Matthias Jensen felt frozen, felt the literal chill that came as the realization of what was going on started to sink in. No other boy was moving forward. It wasn't a joke. Of the two tiny slips of paper Matthias had entered in this year's reaping, two out of thousands, one of those had been chosen. Some of the boys around him showed genuine pity and pushed him forward gently, actually saving him the embarrassment of being pushed forward by the Peacekeepers. The boy took the hint, moving forward although he wasn't aware at all of telling his legs to walk. A pair of peacekeepers fell in behind him, following him until he ascended the stage to stand on the other side of the escort.
As every child did, Matthias had been plagued by the same nightmares of his name being called before a reaping. Though it was foolish and incredibly selfish, a part of him had always hoped someone would volunteer to take his place if it ever happened. He knew none of his classmates ever would, and many would be happy to see him go. Aramis wouldn't, because half the time he'd rather pretend he only had an older brother. Jackson, though, was kind to him. At 17, Jackson was still eligible this year, his second-to-last time. He was strong, smart and well-liked. He had often translated the world for Matthias and was one of the few people who seemed to really care for him. Ultimately, though, the 13-year-old knew it was better no one took his place. Matthias would have hated himself for the rest of his life if he had been the cause of his older brother's death. Jackson had already dropped out of school to work for a living, and one day, he would inherit the ranch. The Jensen family needed Jackson. They even needed Aramis, because even though he was selfish and mean, Aramis was healthy and strong and could look after himself. The Jensen family didn't need Matthias, the deaf kid who would rather draw the animals than butcher one of them, and who couldn't be trusted to care for animals because he couldn't hear trouble. He had an illness that couldn't be cured, and if the Jensen family had to lose a member, it should be him.
Matthias looked straight ahead at the crowd as he stood on the stage, surprisingly not angry. He was feeling a million other things, all clear on his face, but not anger. He should have seen it coming. The escort next to him smiled at his audience. "May I present the tributes who have the honor of representing District 10 in this year's Hunger Games, Caterina Westword and Matthias Jensen! Now, shake hands, you two, and may the odds be ever in your favor." Matthias wasn't paying any attention to his escort though, and after an uncomfortable pause, Caterina grabbed his hand. It startled him and he turned to look at her. She gave his hand a shake with mild confusion on her pretty face. He could see his escort's face beyond her as the boy started to head inside, with a look on his face that wasn't unfamiliar. He probably thought Matthias was just thick in the head. Caterina turned to follow the escort and a moment later, his face red despite how ridiculous being frustrated by something like that was, Matthias followed after her.
As he headed inside the justice building, Matthias briefly met the gaze of Falro Killian. He had run into the victor not so long ago, when he had chased off some of the bullies who often bothered Matthias. Though scary at first, the man had turned out to be kind. He had actually given Matthias his time, even some respect then. Partway into their first meeting, he had connected the man with this victor, known for his drinking and a formidable person. Any hope at a friendly relationship was probably shattered now. Matthias would now be spending more time with the man, and he doubted that Falro was thrilled about his male tribute. Who would be?
WC: 1254
Tag:@falro (if he wants to) and any other D10er interested!
Notes: It's the last day of reaping week and I wanted to get this post out before we move to trains, etc. I talked to Nuk, and she figured it was best to just go forward without Jeremy. So I made the escort an NPC, who can easily get replaced with one later if we need to.