Two's 67th Hunger Games [Victor: Adria!]

[Pistol Annie #1 NPC]

Ed was not in a good mood. He had nodded silently upon Naomi's request, the one involving a welcoming committee, but he was horribly upset and hadn't spoken a word ever since. Now he was on his way to the Admissions Office, and he was in deep thought when he bumped into someone.
"Oh, Willow, I'm so sorry-" he stammered.
Willow immediately picked up on his negativity. "Hey, no worries. What's up, Ed?"
"It's my fault," he burst out, "the love of my life doesn't even want to live anymore. I've been meeting Naomi in her dreams, and now she..."
"You fret too much," chuckled Willow. "It's going to be fine. The victor will be a honorable one. I already know who it is, and unfortunately, we can't change that."
"But Naomi-"
"You need to stop obsessing," chided Willow. She opened the door of the Admissions Office. "A negative mood does no good. You are needed today, Ed."
"Why?" he asked.
Willow simply shook his head and walked away. Normally, she was so happy in the afterlife; this was a first. Something was horribly, dreadfully wrong. Nothing seemed to get Willow into a negative mood these days. As Ed closed the door behind him, he realized maybe he didn't want to know.
But, perhaps he already knew.

Maple was simply standing a good distance away from Theodore and Clair. Her intentions had been to finish off the young girl, so Theodore wouldn't have to; however, Clair would have none of it. Maple knew Clair would prefer a death at his hands, but she also knew how disturbed Theodore was by those ideas.
Sometimes, it was impossible to please everyone.
What helped one person would harm another.
Some questions had no right answer.
And life was always about those difficult choices.

"No... Clair..."
Where am I?
Somewhere between life and death, she waited.
There was nothing she could do. Nothing, that is, but continue to fight.
For him.
"I-I'm sorry... I'm sorry..."
There he was. At last.
He had found her after all.
"I'm sorry Clair... I'm sorry..."
The girl's one hazel eye focused on the boy, kneeling beside her with tears in his deep azure eyes. For an instant she could forget about the pain, and in that moment, her signature smile flickered on her face briefly.
Don't be sorry, she wanted to tell him. There's no need.
Even as the pain returned, Clair did not break eye contact. Her determination was too great, her will was too strong; and this was how she always wanted it to be.
Slowly, agonizingly, the girl drew a deep breath. She wanted her last words to be worthwhile; and what could be more worthwhile to say than the name of he whom she loved?
With her single eye pleading, glistening with tears not yet shed, she spoke.
"Theodore?"

[+30mg]

as soon as she spoke his name, theodore opened his eyes that was locked with tears, he caressed the girl in a hug, caring not if her blood pricked his attire with the red glow. he had given all in that embrace; hope, love, and apology, for the boy wanted clair to know of his undoing, of his ignorance, and his flaw.
he wanted to know, that he truly loved her.
what was her last wish?
theo muttered apologies once more, the fact that he cannot convey his power upon the safety of his beloved, a permanent guilt that was stuck in his core. all of his limited attempt were null, as none managed to safeguard clair's life.
seeing that it was truly theodore's role in the arena.
a role he failed to fulfill.
then, he asked himself once more.
what was her... clair's last wish...?
indeed, it was her death upon his hands. but it will surely took a heavy toll in the nearing future, for he could never forgive himself for taking the life of this girl. however, theo would never disappoint clair in her final moments, and he would rather wallow in his unforgivable soul than to wound her final wish.
but the question was...
am i ready...?

[honeybee.]

Leo jumped up from were he was sitting the instant Maple ran into the camp, carrying Clair. He didn't go any closer though, Maple was getting Theo meaning that there was nothing any of the others could do. Leo watched sombrely as Theodore emerged from his tent and rushed towards Clair. He remained respectfully silent throughout the sad scene.

[Pistol Annie #1 NPC]

"What's with all the burn marks, Apricot? What did you do in this room?" Ed chuckled, making small-talk in an attempt to divert his attention from the screen.
"I don't appreciate delinquents," Apricot was still snarling. Ed noticed she had smashed various objects on the floor, and those objects were no longer recognizable. "I'll disgrace up anyone who betrays..."
"Oh, um," Ed stammered, "about my sister and Theo... I can explain... it's not betrayal, I swear-"
"I know it isn't," Apricot cut him off. Her voice was a little calmer now. "Ah, it reminds me so much of what I did to Matty. Weren't those the good old days? And hey, Ed, why aren't you upset?"
Ed's eyes flickered to the screen. "I am upset. I'm just n-not crying right now, because I didn't want to irritate you with the noise. I heard you haunted your cousin because he cried too much."
"Hey!" Apricot yelled. "Hemlock? I could hear his annoying noise from the afterlife! Of course I had to do something about it. Ha ha, the bad luck I cursed him with won't only last seven years..."
Ed chuckled nervously and said nothing more.
"That's what I thought," cackled Apricot.

Maple stood beside Leo; if it was possible, her solemn expression was even darker in this situation. She had to be very understanding, though. The task Theo would undertake was a grim one, a deed which struck deeply within the hearts of even the most ruthless fighters from District Two.
She thought of Apricot and Matty. The girl's bloodlust had consumed her day by day, never quenching, even as she broke the Panem record for a Hunger Games kill streak. Yet, all that changed in an instant. As a necessity, she was forced to take the life of her love. Only in that moment was her thirst for blood satiated at last.
An act like this always changed the giver irreversibly. Maple reached forward and took Leo's hand in hers, clasping his fingers with surprising gentleness.
She hoped they would never need to do the same for one another.

Clair's hazel eye fluttered shut in contentment as Theodore embraced her, softly cradling her in his warm, gentle arms. It was beyond simply a gesture. The meaning of it was everything to her, and in that moment, she understood completely. The girl opened her eye and gazed at him apologetically.
No, I'm sorry, she wanted to tell him. It was the cruelest of ironies that had united them together, almost torn them apart, and now brought two doomed souls together for a final bitter moment.
"I'm really sorry if I scared you," she had told him, last night on the beach. "Really. I n-never wanted to upset anyone. I promise I'll stop saying that kind of stuff if it -- if it makes you uncomfortable."
Now, it was no longer a matter of speaking such distressing words...
... The subject in question, Theodore's nightmare yet Clair's dream, would become reality.
Her eye met his. She would wait for him however long he needed, until he was ready. This was not only her moment; it was the first yet final act of love he could give her.
Her only regret was that her last request may well destroy him, too.

[TheFae]

Naomi
16
Location: By Clair
Tagged: Cedric and Maple


Naomi was watching her friend with a smile. It was bittersweet. The perfect fairytale ending. Naomi just wanted her own fairytale ending. As she was daydreaming of her perfect blue-eyed shining knight, she heard a snap of the branch. She didn't even hesitate as she cracked her whip and spun around. No one was going to ruin her sister's moment. She then saw the blond hair of Cedric.
"You." She hissed, eyes blazing. He killed Baux. She knew it.
"I'm going to drown you!" She hissed, not wanting to create a scene.
"You can't drown someone born of the sea, love." Cedric teased, eyes glinting. Naomi had enough. She ran after him, cracking her whip. She pushed him to the beach, making sure she kept quiet. She was so furious, she had tunnel vision.
"You are going to pay for this, you codfish!" She hissed, knowing it was a derogatory term in District 4.
Cedric snarled and lunged at her, sword drawn. Naomi didn't hesitate as she cracked her whip again. She couldn't afford to look away, but she needed Maple. Together they would drown this snake.

[Pistol Annie #1 NPC]

Someone was making a ridiculous commotion, and it was highly disrespectful. How dare some uncouth teenager disturb the last moments of a Career? Maple spun around, about to chide an ally to learn some discipline, but Cedric was there as well. Immediately the District Two girl was sprinting down the beach, her spear in her right hand. This was a shame upon his district. Nothing usually bothered Maple, but Cedric's behavior was quite offensive, and this was not the first time he had crossed the Careers. Purposely. This needed to end now.
Calmly, angrily, Maple made eye contact with Naomi and nodded. Then she pointed her spear directly at Cedric and advanced, slowly driving him towards the water.
He would serve as an example. An example to all uncouth youth who dared mess with the Career Alliance. It was time to punish this juvenile delinquent.

[TheFae]

Naomi
16
Location: Beach
Tagged: Maple and the Codfish

Naomi was glad when Maple came to help. She even smiled despite the anger coursing through her. When Maple's spear went up, she saw Cedric's eyes. They were filled with fear. It made Naomi want to sing. He tripped, and fell backwards. He started to beg.
"Please, I won't bother you. I'll just go back to my island. Please spare me." He pleaded. Typical District 4, well most of the District 4 tributes. There was a specific family or two that Naomi personally liked.
"You already bothered us. You're going to swim with the fishes by the time I'm done with you!" Naomi screeched, but her voice didn't echo. She kept it low enough so Clair wouldn't hear. She needed her moment. Cedric immediately stood, chucked his sword at Maple, and then done into the water. She knew Maple would dodge it. It was an awful throw. Naomi then cracked her whip, having it wrap around his ankle, and stopping his progress. She then leapt in after him, and pulled him under. She kept punching him, the blood in the water blinding her. When she thought her lungs would hurst, she surfaced to take a huge breath. She then dive back under, and grabbed a heavy rock from the bottom. Cedric was still struggling, but he was all twisted in her whip so he couldn't break free. She knew he could hold his breath forever though.
"Go to Davy Jones's locker!" She screamed in the water as she brought the rock down on his head. His eyes went blank, and Naomi quickly untwisted her whip. She then swam to the surface, breathing hard. She coughed and sputtered, but she kept swimming to shore. After a few moments, a cannon fired. Naomi just didn't know who it was.
"We've got to get back." Naomi rasped.

[Pistol Annie #1 NPC]

Maple was not at all moved by Cedric's pleas. She didn't say a word, unlike Naomi, who screamed in rage at the beaten teenager. She simply continued to walk forward -- until the boy threw his sword at her. What an unsophisticated, impolite move. District Four was known for the Cry and Grant families, and it was often so much more honorable than this teenage boy. This kind of attack was a signature of one of those shameful lower-class citizens of District Three, that imbecile Bane Exercitus from three years ago. How childish and disappointing. Maple managed to avoid a fatal hit, but she wasn't quite the one to dodge efficiently. The blade gouged an unpleasant slash in her side.
"Excuse me?" she demanded, completely ignoring the wound. Her anger was far more intense than the pain, which was nothing; she had received worse in simple training accidents.
Maple was about to dive into the water when Naomi surfaced, without Cedric. With an approving nod, Maple extended her arm to help her ally up, then began the walk back to camp.
Teenagers...

[TheFae]

Naomi
16
Location: Camp
Tagged: Maple

"Maple! Your side!" Naomi gasped. She saw the blood, and while it didn't look fatal, it looked painful. "I could perhaps find a plant that will help." She murmured, already looking around for something to help her with. Her hair was dripping, and her eyes and lungs were still burning from the salt.
"Just so you know, Cedric was incredibly easy to take down. He didn't put up that much of a fight." She smiled, needing to keep the mood light for her sanity.

[Pistol Annie #1 NPC]

Maple nodded with a grateful, solemn expression. "Thank you," she told the girl. At first she was concerned about her slightly uncomfortable-looking eyes, but quickly dismissed it; the sting from the saltwater would fade in due time. Naomi looked otherwise fine, in fact, she almost reminded Maple of Willow. The two sisters hadn't been to South Beach together since last year. Since Willow entered the Hunger Games and never returned.
She was lost in thought, but Naomi snapped her out of it by talking about Cedric. "Great," said Maple with another nod, walking alongside her ally. Perhaps Cedric was weakened from lack of food; Naomi had the other Careers to help sustain her. On the other hand, she was also a great fighter with that whip, which would be difficult to untangle underwater. Excellent strategy. "Well played," the District Two girl commended.