Post by Matthias Jensen on Jan 26, 2015 21:29:24 GMT -7
The train carried 13-year-old Matthias Jensen on to another district. After District 5, District 6 had been uneventful and District 7 only slightly less so. Seven had been Calem's district, the boy who had killed Basil but had given Matthias her token. The boy who had the chance, but didn't kill him. He had said a few words there, about how grateful he was that the boy spared his life and what a strong fighter he was, but left out the part about how glad he was that it was the boy from District 2 who killed Calem, not Matthias' trap. Somehow, in a way the boy couldn't quite explain, it was just better that way.
Now, Matthias was headed to District 8. He hadn't known the girl tribute from there, Raya, more than what he saw during training and the five minutes the two of them were in the same place during the Games. He didn't know the male tribute, Harrison, very well either, but Harrison was one of the first voices he had heard with his new Capitol ears. Harrison had found him on the roof of the training center after the parade, when Matthias was testing his new gift out alone. There, Harrison had painted a picture that stuck with the boy: "The best part of District Eight has to be the sunset, though. Its probably the only normal thing around there. It goes down and there's a giant orange sky. The sunrise is actually fun too. It has a lot more color, pinks, yellows, and oranges. Its hard to see sometimes with all the smoke blowing around from the factories, but sometimes when you can see it, I personally think its beautiful."
On the train ride to Eight, Matthias had tried to recall what Harrison described using his pencils. Of course, having never physically seen the district, it was difficult. He created thick columns billowing smoke first, but overlayed and surrounded them with all the colors of a sunset. It was probably one of his most succinct and easy to understand drawings of the whole trip. He used at least a dozen pencils just to get the image of the sunset just right, and the process was somewhat calming. Even though Harrison had never really known Matthias, he had somehow known that the best thing to give the formerly deaf boy was a beautiful image.
The newly made victor actually departed the train in this semi-calm. He followed his escort, who chattered on about something and handed him this district's cards. By now, he knew the speech fairly well, but his escort still changed the names, districts and even colors of the cards so that if he froze, he'd have something to get him back on track. They stepped out onto the stage, and as he was introduced, Matthias looked at the highlighted families. Except... where the girl's family should have been standing, there was no one. Not a soul was left to mourn Raya of District 8, and the thought made him incredibly sad. When he looked to Harrion's side, it was the exact opposite. Nine men and one woman stood there to represent the Martials, and since one of the men looked significantly older than the rest, he could only assume that meant Harrison had eight brothers. Some of them looked so much like Harrison had...
An image slammed into Matthias' head of the final time the world had seen Harrison of District 8: hanging from a rope. Matthias hadn't known that's how he had died until he was shown the recap at his crowning ceremony, and though he'd only seen it the once, the image was haunting. Prior to that, the boy had only assumed that his own fire had killed Harrison. Matthias still felt the fire was responsible, had see the burns from it on the boy's body, but Harrison had ended his own life. Someone touched his shoulder, and he jumped a bit as he looked up to see his escort looking down at him. With a glance to the front, he saw that everyone else in District 8 was looking at him too, meaning he had missed the end of his introduction.
Matthias swallowed and stepped up to the microphone set for him. He looked down at his cards, and read. "H-Hello. My name is Matthias Jensen," he started, his speech slow as he tried to banish that horrible image from his head. He cleared his throat and tried to speak louder,little faster, to get it all out and distract himself. "I am... I am honored to be here in District 8. I stand here today, Victor of the 73.1 Hunger Games, because of the power and generosity of the Capitol. I have been deaf most of my life, but the Capitol gave me hearing and the people of Panem gave me the tools I needed to emerge from the arena victorious. I am thankful for that. As a nation, we rose out of the Dark Days stronger and more united, but the Hunger Games remind us of the sacrifices we must continue to make to keep our country strong. Today, I thank District 8 for the sacrifices you have made and honor your tributes."
The boy turned to Raya's empty side, glanced at the card, and back again. After a pause, he read the standard two sentences that were given for tributes he didn't really know, though he felt odd saying it to practically no one. Then he turned to Harrison's side, with all those brothers. He always chose the easier family to address first, and he really should have done it the other way around. "I... didn't know Harrison very well," he said, taking a glance to the cards as if they'd actually be able to help him. He looked back up. "We only really spoke once, but his was one of the first voices I heard. He was a brave, kind person who had a way with descriptions, and I wish I could have known him better." He paused, feeling like he should add more, but not knowing what to say. There was never really anything good to say. He glanced down at his cards, although he already knew what they told him to say next. "Panem today, Panem tomorrow, Panem forever. Thank you."
There was some applause, and then Matthias turned and left the stage. He had heard they were going to take a bit of a tour later, but he had a little downtime in between. He changed into something more comfortable - the suit he had been wearing wasn't, so much - and went back out to the stage. They never let him wander the district on his own, but he sat on the edge of the stage and tried to really take in District 8. Even though the crowd had mostly dispersed, there still seemed to be people everywhere. Beyond the square, it was solid buildings, most of them close together. And everywhere, everything was grey. Grey buildings, grey smoke, grey workers. He could see how a sunset would be so amazing here, briefly turning this monochrome world into a beautiful array of colors. Everything was so opposite of District 10. His gaze turned upward, trying to imagine how sunset would affect the haze above him.
WC: 1223
Tag: @bane and/or open
Notes: Um, I assume Harrison also has living parents since the app didn't say either way?
Now, Matthias was headed to District 8. He hadn't known the girl tribute from there, Raya, more than what he saw during training and the five minutes the two of them were in the same place during the Games. He didn't know the male tribute, Harrison, very well either, but Harrison was one of the first voices he had heard with his new Capitol ears. Harrison had found him on the roof of the training center after the parade, when Matthias was testing his new gift out alone. There, Harrison had painted a picture that stuck with the boy: "The best part of District Eight has to be the sunset, though. Its probably the only normal thing around there. It goes down and there's a giant orange sky. The sunrise is actually fun too. It has a lot more color, pinks, yellows, and oranges. Its hard to see sometimes with all the smoke blowing around from the factories, but sometimes when you can see it, I personally think its beautiful."
On the train ride to Eight, Matthias had tried to recall what Harrison described using his pencils. Of course, having never physically seen the district, it was difficult. He created thick columns billowing smoke first, but overlayed and surrounded them with all the colors of a sunset. It was probably one of his most succinct and easy to understand drawings of the whole trip. He used at least a dozen pencils just to get the image of the sunset just right, and the process was somewhat calming. Even though Harrison had never really known Matthias, he had somehow known that the best thing to give the formerly deaf boy was a beautiful image.
The newly made victor actually departed the train in this semi-calm. He followed his escort, who chattered on about something and handed him this district's cards. By now, he knew the speech fairly well, but his escort still changed the names, districts and even colors of the cards so that if he froze, he'd have something to get him back on track. They stepped out onto the stage, and as he was introduced, Matthias looked at the highlighted families. Except... where the girl's family should have been standing, there was no one. Not a soul was left to mourn Raya of District 8, and the thought made him incredibly sad. When he looked to Harrion's side, it was the exact opposite. Nine men and one woman stood there to represent the Martials, and since one of the men looked significantly older than the rest, he could only assume that meant Harrison had eight brothers. Some of them looked so much like Harrison had...
An image slammed into Matthias' head of the final time the world had seen Harrison of District 8: hanging from a rope. Matthias hadn't known that's how he had died until he was shown the recap at his crowning ceremony, and though he'd only seen it the once, the image was haunting. Prior to that, the boy had only assumed that his own fire had killed Harrison. Matthias still felt the fire was responsible, had see the burns from it on the boy's body, but Harrison had ended his own life. Someone touched his shoulder, and he jumped a bit as he looked up to see his escort looking down at him. With a glance to the front, he saw that everyone else in District 8 was looking at him too, meaning he had missed the end of his introduction.
Matthias swallowed and stepped up to the microphone set for him. He looked down at his cards, and read. "H-Hello. My name is Matthias Jensen," he started, his speech slow as he tried to banish that horrible image from his head. He cleared his throat and tried to speak louder,little faster, to get it all out and distract himself. "I am... I am honored to be here in District 8. I stand here today, Victor of the 73.1 Hunger Games, because of the power and generosity of the Capitol. I have been deaf most of my life, but the Capitol gave me hearing and the people of Panem gave me the tools I needed to emerge from the arena victorious. I am thankful for that. As a nation, we rose out of the Dark Days stronger and more united, but the Hunger Games remind us of the sacrifices we must continue to make to keep our country strong. Today, I thank District 8 for the sacrifices you have made and honor your tributes."
The boy turned to Raya's empty side, glanced at the card, and back again. After a pause, he read the standard two sentences that were given for tributes he didn't really know, though he felt odd saying it to practically no one. Then he turned to Harrison's side, with all those brothers. He always chose the easier family to address first, and he really should have done it the other way around. "I... didn't know Harrison very well," he said, taking a glance to the cards as if they'd actually be able to help him. He looked back up. "We only really spoke once, but his was one of the first voices I heard. He was a brave, kind person who had a way with descriptions, and I wish I could have known him better." He paused, feeling like he should add more, but not knowing what to say. There was never really anything good to say. He glanced down at his cards, although he already knew what they told him to say next. "Panem today, Panem tomorrow, Panem forever. Thank you."
There was some applause, and then Matthias turned and left the stage. He had heard they were going to take a bit of a tour later, but he had a little downtime in between. He changed into something more comfortable - the suit he had been wearing wasn't, so much - and went back out to the stage. They never let him wander the district on his own, but he sat on the edge of the stage and tried to really take in District 8. Even though the crowd had mostly dispersed, there still seemed to be people everywhere. Beyond the square, it was solid buildings, most of them close together. And everywhere, everything was grey. Grey buildings, grey smoke, grey workers. He could see how a sunset would be so amazing here, briefly turning this monochrome world into a beautiful array of colors. Everything was so opposite of District 10. His gaze turned upward, trying to imagine how sunset would affect the haze above him.
WC: 1223
Tag: @bane and/or open
Notes: Um, I assume Harrison also has living parents since the app didn't say either way?