by SunnyJustice » Tue Dec 15, 2020 9:19 am
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----Acacia Auyongthe death-defying demon
Career of the 2nd Hunger Games Full name: "Hey, I'm Acacia Auyong. My squad used to call me 'the death-defying demon'. Gave me a good chuckle every time."
Gender: "I'm cool with anything." Acacia identifies as female, but any pronouns are fine.
Sexuality: "No idea, really."
District: "District Two. I grew up in sleepy Elmdale village at the foot of the mountains. When war broke out, I enlisted at the age of fourteen. To be honest, I didn't know what I was fighting for, I just wanted to preserve our way of life."
Age: "I was eighteen when I volunteered for the Hunger Games. Reckoned it'd be my chance to pull off something heroic."
Voice type: Baritone
Appearance: Acacia stands at 5'11", with broad shoulders and an athletic figure. She is lean and well-muscled from the rigorous physical demands of military life. Her warm olive skin is covered with scars, but she wears them with pride. Each one of them represents an enemy soldier who failed to take her life. She has silky black hair often tied in a low ponytail, and narrow russet-brown eyes.
Personality: "I try to be as annoying as possible for my enemies. I'll never betray my friends, though, unless you count puns as treason." Acacia is laid-back and relaxed. An optimist at heart, she'll find something to laugh about in the worst of times. Some even believe she has no emotions because of how placid she is, a fair assumption to make when watching her fight. In the field, her opponent would literally shoot her and she'd just make the most annoying pun imaginable. Her jokes are so bad they're torturous.
A steadfast ally and an infuriating enemy, Acacia shines in battle thanks to her composure. She loves to wear a calm smile as her enemy's irritation grows and grows. To her friends, she's incredibly loyal and can even show a nurturing side.
Crush: "Sam's cute." Acacia has a soft spot for her upbeat district partner.
Alliance: "I'm a Career. Although I trained at the Academy for only one year, I felt ready. My experience in the District Two army helped me a ton." Due to Acacia's prior experience in combat, she became leader of the Careers. Her military influence shaped the alliance's cultural development, pushing future Careers to think of themselves as brothers-in-arms. ⚔
Reaped or volunteered: "Volunteered. Proudest day of my life." Acacia thought of all the young children who'd been terrified of the Hunger Games just a year prior. Now they wouldn't need to worry, the Careers would take their place.
Parade outfit: "Something called a 'dress'... never touched those in my life." Acacia wore a dress with a sedimentary rock pattern. Although she hated it, she plastered on a smile and endured the torturous ordeal.
Interview angle: "I decided to annoy the audience with puns. After forcing me into that torture device called a 'dress', they needed a little taste of justice." The worst jokes imaginable flew from her mouth in an endless stream of groan-worthy humor. Once Acacia finally left the stage, the audience felt they'd aged thirty extra years. One guy was sobbing on the floor.
Alignment: Chaotic neutral
Weapon of choice: "An acacia-wood spear. Not only is it ironic, it's different from my other allies' weapons. Pun-making is easier with a variety." Acacia wasn't considering this at the time, but variety also helps Careers in a practical way.
Skills: "Death is an option, not a necessity." Acacia earned the affectionate nickname of 'the death-defying demon' after surviving multiple battlefield incidents that should've killed her. She's so physically tough, rumors of her history spread across Panem and caused a few protests in the lower districts.
Fatal flaw: "I'm terrible at thinking ahead. Thankfully, Prodigy's the smart one." 'Prodigy' is her district partner, Sam.
Mentor: "Dang, I didn't have one. Wish Moxie was still around." The only victor was Quill of District Three.
Training score: "Ten. I'm more than satisfied." The Gamemakers were impressed by her athleticism, strength, and versatility with weapons. Acacia didn't need to use her brain, so it wasn't a difficult test for her.
Death: "I'll tell you how I died... if you can stomach it." The second games featured a chilly taiga forest based off the northern lands once called Canada. This mild cold felt like nothing to Acacia, who rolled up her sleeves in preparation for the fight. She'd seen the chaos that unfolded at the Cornucopia last year. Panem had taken to calling it the 'bloodbath', and Acacia was prepared to see another.
Her eyes landed on an acacia-wood spear not far from her pedestal, and a smile softened her scarred face. As the gong rang out, Acacia made a dash for her spear, but a punk reached it first. He cracked some joke about women's fighting prowess as he attacked.
Acacia nimbly sidestepped, then grabbed the spear by its shaft. A gentle tug was all it took to free the weapon from this delinquent's sweaty grip. "What was that? Sorry, my hearing isn't that sharp." With that horrible pun, she thrust the spear into his heart and moved on.
A scream pierced the air. Acacia spun around to see the wounded District Four boy crawling away from the Threes, Siria and Cypher. "Stop! It's me! We're allies, remember?" Tyko sobbed as a merciless Cypher pinned him down. "You don't have to do this."
Disgusted by this betrayal, Acacia decided these cowards would be her next targets and rushed towards the crime scene. This wasn't right. Without hesitation, she sent her spear flying towards Cypher, who ducked under it and tightened his grip on his treason victim. Tyko locked eyes with Acacia, but his pained expression glazed over as Siria cut his throat. Frustration surged through the Career at her failure to save the child from such an awful fate, but she pushed down her emotions and kept running.
Siria stumbled back from the body, staring at her bloodied hands as if in a trance, but Cypher saw the Careers approaching and ran without any thought of helping his partner. So that one was the worse traitor. As Sam reached the scene and decapitated Siria in one swift blow, Acacia retrieved her spear from where it fell, then threw it at the cowardly Cypher's retreating back.
"I didn't have to do that, either," Acacia shouted over to him as he collapsed. "You left your back exposed when you were busy stabbing someone else's."
As she retrieved her spear from Cypher's body, another tribute jumped her from behind. It didn't take much effort for Acacia to knock her assailant out with a punch to the temple. Talia from the impoverished District Twelve must've seen an opportunity to eliminate one of her strongest opponents, and went all-out despite the strength differential between them. Her courage was respectable, even if the attempt did fail. Acacia cleaned her weapon in the grass and then raised it once more.
The cannon fired, and Acacia regrouped with her allies as they dealt with the last stragglers. They immediately began vetoing ideas in regards to setting up camp. Prince hated the northern hills' terrain, Genesis argued the western woods looked too cold, and Sam refused to set foot in the eastern prairies after glimpsing the tail of a massive snake-mutt in that direction. After everyone shared their opinions, Acacia led them to the only non-hated location: the southern forest, where the weather was a little milder.
Acacia and Genesis set up the firepit and pitched the ladies' tent in record time. Satisfied with their work, Acacia decided to take a walk. Hopefully she'd run into a tribute or two. She had no idea at the time, but she'd become the first example of why Careers should never venture anywhere alone.
Deep in the woods, something lunged out at Acacia. She reacted fast and speared her attacker through the chest, sending it thrashing to the forest floor. It was a large feline, resembling a puma with flowing hair and knifelike claws, and it wasn't alone. Three pairs of yellow eyes stared out from the undergrowth. Without hesitation, Acacia turned and ran, but soon became cornered against a cliff face. Nowhere left to run. Gritting her teeth, she drew her spear and prepared to make her last stand. The monsters prowled around her, purring, toying with their trapped prey. How disappointing that a soldier's end would be so pathetic.
No. This wasn't the end. Acacia heard voices, the three voices she wanted to hear most - Prince, Sam, and Genesis. Her brothers-in-arms were here, charging into battle by her side. Together, they made short work of the mutts.
"You..." Acacia managed between heavy breaths. "You could have died, you... you idiots... why did you put yourself in danger?"
Although none of her allies answered, she could see the look in their eyes. It was the same camaderie she'd seen back in the barracks of District Two. At that moment, Acacia knew the answer. Because this is what it means to be a Career. We volunteered to fight alongside one another. Now we're a squad, and soldiers protect each other. Something felt warm and fuzzy in her chest.
"I happen to enjoy being an idiot," Sam laughed, breaking the silence. "Now, let's get back to camp!"
The next morning, Acacia woke to a surprising development. Genesis wanted to talk about... boys? Once Acacia's confusion wore off, she ruthlessly teased her friend about the 'handsome Prince' she seemed to fancy. Genesis, flustered, denied it as her pale face grew redder and redder. When Sam finally woke up, Acacia decided to stop torturing Genesis and head out on a hunting trip.
"Enjoy your alone time with Prince. You should tell him your secret," Acacia whispered into Genesis's ear before leaving camp.
She and Sam journeyed through the forest, searching for tributes to take out. The temperature dropped sharply throughout their walk. After the duo crossed a frozen river, they spotted two tributes loafing among the trees - Khali and Ashley of District Five.
As Acacia and Sam approached the startled tributes, the first winds of a blizzard swept through the trees. The entire forest turned into a swirling world of white. Sam flailed his sword at the nearest moving figure, and a cannon fired, but Acacia couldn't see anything. They had to leave now, before the storm buried them alive in the snow.
The moment Acacia and Sam returned to camp, they dove into the nearest tent to huddle for warmth. Prince was already inside, and he stared at them with a perplexed expression, then seemed to understand. He zipped up the tent opening and sat by it protectively. No longer tortured by freezing winds, Acacia mouthed a silent 'thank you' despite chattering teeth.
But one of them was missing. "Genesis... she can't be out alone," Acacia managed, slow and slurred. "Where is she, Prince?"
Prince explained she'd run off flustered. With a jolt of horror, Acacia dragged herself to her feet. "We need to find her!" This time, her voice carried firmness General Alma would've been proud of. "You all put yourself in danger to save me. Now it's my turn."
Braving the wind and cold, Acacia ventured out into the blizzard. Her allies fell in behind her. As the point-woman, Acacia would repay their earlier kindness by acting as their shield now. "To the Cornucopia," she called out, "it's the only other shelter out here!"
As they reached the central clearing, Acacia spotted Genesis curled up beside the Cornucopia, cold and still. Heart pounding, she raced forward and gathered the smaller girl into her arms. "Genesis, wake up. Hey. Don't give me the cold shoulder."
Against all odds, Genesis's eyes fluttered open. "I'm sorry..."
"Oh, I'll lecture you about it later." Acacia laughed in relief, then broke into a run towards the safety of camp.
Once they'd all made it home safely, an evil grin spread across Acacia's face. She launched into the most torturous lecture she could fathom, longer than a District One university essay, louder than the storm still raging outside. Her worst, most infernal puns were included as an extra treat. All her allies were groaning in agony by the time she'd finished. "... So yeah, wisen up. Because I care."
After the horrifying lecture, the tension between Prince and Genesis seemed to fade a little. They'd united through the shared experience of pun torture. Now the alliance returned to talking and laughing, cracking jokes about unbeatable District Three gamers as the storm died away. They decided to all sleep in the same tent that night. The time for barriers was past.
Come morning, Acacia woke to a piercing hiss. Only those mutant pumas from the first night could produce such a feral sound. She was on her feet in seconds, racing out of the tent, spear in hand. "Get your weapons! You've got to be kitten me."
The Careers stood back-to-back and waited. Without warning, pumas sprang from the bushes on all sides. This would be a long fight.
Once the battle was over, Acacia's gaze swept numbly over the ruins of camp. Prince lay motionless beside the remains of the tent, a painful reminder of the camaderie they'd shared last night. All that remained of Genesis was a blood trail leading into the woods. Following the trail, they found Genesis's body at the edge of the trees, her throat slit. The mutts hadn't killed her; this was the work of another tribute. Their enemy even had the audacity to leave them a message: Watch out. I'm coming for you two.
"I will have their head mounted on my spear by nightfall," she muttered. "This time, I'm not joking."
Acacia brought Genesis's body back to camp, where she and Sam said their final goodbyes to their two fallen friends.
At the feast, the duo waited in the bushes for another tribute to arrive. With only two non-Careers left in the arena, Acacia deemed it wise to patiently wait for one of them to make the first move - the first mistake. And that was exactly what happened. A small blur leapt down from the trees above, lashed out blindly and fled. Acacia checked Sam for injuries and upon finding none, assured him she'd be right back. He remained crouched in the bracken as Acacia pursued his assailant into the prairies.
Acacia found Ryetta from District Nine cowering in the grass, frozen in terror under a massive snake-mutt's glare. First things first. Without hesitation, the Career ripped the axe from the smaller tribute's hands and swung at the mutt. It hissed in indignant rage, baring its fangs in preparation to strike, but Acacia never gave it the chance. The foul beast's severed head fell with a dull thud, followed by the rest of its lifeless body.
At her feet, a now-weaponless Ryetta winced in pain, purplish veins spreading from the bite mark on her arm. She was in no shape to either run or fight, not that she had a choice anymore. Her lips parted as if to speak, but Acacia couldn't understand the words.
"I know," Acacia muttered. The sympathy wrenching her heart flashed across her face, briefly, as she raised her borrowed axe.
"Acacia!" A piercing call echoed through the forest. "I have your precious little prodigy. You have a minute to get here before I stab him!"
Heart pounding with horror, Acacia ran faster than ever before. She arrived at the Cornucopia to see Khali holding a poison dart to Sam's neck. Acacia sank to her knees, trying to appeal to any humanity in the District Five girl. "Let him go. Kill me instead."
"Too late," Khali said with a taunting smile, then plunged the dart into Sam's neck.
An inhuman shout escaped Acacia as she lunged forward, attacking with reckless abandon. Anger clouded her judgement and turned her vision into a blazing field of crimson. Soon the spear left her hands, wrenched away by Khali.
"I'll see you in hell, murderer," Khali hissed and plunged the blade into Acacia's stomach. Now this was just rude.
"Race you there!" Acacia laughed in her face, then turned to Sam. "Love you, buddy. Get that punk for me."
Thankfully, Acacia's anger had cooled by the time she arrived in the afterlife. She'd never understood such strong emotions before that moment. Although she was horrified when Sam showed up instead of Khali, he didn't seem that upset about dying - mostly about letting that rude murderer get away with her crimes. Oh well, it wouldn't be forever. One day they'd see Khali again.
Nowadays, Acacia and her allies spend their time posing interesting challenges to other dead tributes. They've even challenged the very "unbeatable District Three gamers" they joked about in life. Sadly for the Careers' pride, those gamers live up to their reputation...Acacia's Relationships
Alliance: | ◆ allies | ◈ neither allies nor enemies | ◇ enemies | ❖ betrayed
Feelings: | ♡ romantic | ✿ very positive | ✓ positive | ▣ neutral | ✘ negative
The 2nd Hunger Games
【 D1 ◆ ✓ 】 Prince: A reliable and trustworthy ally. Acacia is glad to fight beside her brother-in-arms.
【 D2 ◆ ♡ 】 Sam: Acacia always felt fiercely protective of her adorable district partner, and intended on letting him win.
【 D4 ◆ ✿ 】 Genesis: She was passionate and eccentric, just like Acacia herself. The two became like best friends.
【 D5 ◈ ▣ 】 Ashley: Acacia has nothing against this kid. It's not his fault the reaping bowl chose his name.
【 D5 ◇ ✘ 】 Khali: She made Acacia and Sam suffer on purpose, which was incredibly rude.Other
【 ✓ 】 Alma: General Alma was Acacia's role model during her time in District Two's army.
【 ✘ 】 Aspen: Acacia's mother. To be frank, they can't stand each other.
【 ✿ 】 Alder: Acacia loves her little brother, even though he isn't so little anymore. He's literally 6'2".
【 ✓ 】 Lily: District Two's first-ever victor. Acacia is a big fan of her.
【 ✓ 】 Almond: Lily's sweet and awkward husband. Yes, Acacia did a little haunting from beyong the grave...
【 ✓ 】 Sylaise: Lily and Almond's triplets are so cute!
【 ✓ 】 Dirk: Acacia can't wait until they're old enough to fight. She plans to visit them in their dreams.
【 ✓ 】 Andruil: Of course, she doesn't have a favorite. All three of them are equally adorable.Last edited by
SunnyJustice on Sat Aug 27, 2022 10:54 am, edited 10 times in total.
