Mica Reaper

[Private]

Mutts
They were never going to let her win
She's not how they wanted a Victor to look

She did not deserve this
I am going to go back to Nine and make her parents realise what they did

[Mentors]

Thank you for all the encouragement and friendship over the past weeks. Congratulations if you still have someone in the running.

I'm afraid that I'm going to have to drop out of things for a bit and give myself room to get my head around this. If anyone wants a drink, in a day or so I may be up to it.

[Madoc]

Still hanging in there?

[end]

[Mentors]

If a sponsor shells out the big money for an impressive weapon for your tribute the first week, there's no guarantee that they'll pay for a half litre of water in order to secure their investment a few weeks on. Which I knew already, but that's me told yet again, I suppose.

He deserved better

Against that pair and dehydrated as he was, it was only ever going to go one way. Congratulations on being the last district left with both, and no hard feelings of course, Silver.

Interviews from this point on. One or two should be very interesting this year.

[Danna]

I'd ask how you were holding up, but that's a bit of a rhetorical question right now, I imagine. Is there anything you need?

[Madoc]

They're through to the final eight. They may split up, but so far they seem set on sticking together with all the other threats about. Any thoughts from this point out?

[end wards]

[Private]

Nine left. That feels ominous And two of them are mine at this point.

Both of One. Boy Two. Boy Three. Girl Four. Boy Five. Blue and Regus. And Madoc's lad.

The Careers seem wary of Twelve because of his high training score. And whereas with Regus they assume he got his because of his strength, and Three because of something peculiar to his district, Twelve is an unknown quantity.

The pack has disintegrated early this year. I'd say that between the flood and the muttation attack on Four, of all tributes, and the fact that Four won last year, the Gamemakers want someone from outside of those districts to win. But even they cant control everything things don't always go according to their plans.

Girl One hasn't had a proper kill yet, though she's certainly been interesting the sponsors. Unusual, but she does have her training score to tide her over and it could be part of some other strategy designed to intrigue. Her and the boy unfortunately don't seem to share Bron's level of intelligence. That there are two Career pairs left makes them hard to predict. Will they turn on another couple of skilled opponents and risk injury or fatality? Or will they ignore them until there's no other choice, and look for other threats in the Arena? In which case, that would be Hotswap's and Maks' boy. Or Regus.

I really need him to make a kill. But he won't be capable of that until he finds water. Prices are obscene right now, but surely someone who forked over a mace for him in the first week can afford to send a half litre of water so that their investment has a greater chance of paying off? Money is sometimes the best way I can understand the motivations of these Capitol people.

Even with Orr, Blue will likely be overlooked. They're doing all the right things so far, keeping a low profile and making enough plans to make the audience interested. I can't bank on anything, but if I were the Careers, I would probably leave them alone until I've taken out bigger targets.

Four was unexpected. I've seen it all at this point, but I was a little surprised that she was the one to kill Surah's girl. Maybe she's hoping that saving Blue would win her more sponsors after that. It's the sort of thing I may have done, and I don't think the Arena allows that much sentiment now Either way, she's probably hoping for someone other than herself to take Blue out.

No matter how it goes, I suppose, I'm guaranteed at least one in the last eight.

[end ward]

[Tesla and Silver]

I can probably count on one hand the amount of times I've had both tributes make it to the final 11. Your two have done well, Tesla. As have yours, Silver. Congratulations.

Of course, it won't mean anything if I don't get a victor. Second is first loser and so forth.

[Henrik]

I'm sorry about your boy.

[Surah]

I'm really sorry about Dornick. It's little consolation, I know, but I'll always think fondly of him for what he did for my girl.

[end wards]

[Private]

Nothing for Blue yet. Nothing. And to think of how quickly the sponsors wanted to throw weapons, expensive weapons, at Regus. At this point I just need to send her anything - anything to let her know that I haven't forgotten about her, that I'm still in her corner. I'm probably the only adult left in the world who is.

I don't know what else I'm supposed to do

[Danna]

Not towards anyone in particular, and especially not Ellis. But I'm almost hoping for a death at this point, just so I know that the savages audience will be appeased and I can crawl away for some real sleep. I'm under no illusions about what sort of person that makes me.

[end ward]

[Private]

It was that or the spear. The spear would have been cleaner, but it needs more skill and he's not a trained Career. The mace, well, he's the biggest lad left in the Arena. If he gets near enough to anyone to use it, they're done for.

And now all I can think about is which of my friend's kids is he going to bludgeon to death with that thing
How I'm turning this nice, quiet boy into a killer

[Turmeric]

Still nothing for Blue on my end. You?

[Mentors]

A few kids getting weapons already. I remember during my games, we were lucky if we got a box of matches.

Till's escort is making me strangely thankful for Turmeric. There's not having a clue, and then there's being a sadistic bitch I wonder how long this thing will go on for.

[Private]

I'm so sick of it. The parading around, and the pissing contests from people who have no investment whatsoever in those kids in the Arena. The extremes that the Capitol goes to make us forget that we're sending twenty-three of them to the slaughter house only makes the whole spectacle more ridiculous and horrible.

And I hate that there's a place for me still in all of this. Even if one of them wins, I'll still have to go back to Nine and say to at least one family, "I'm sorry, I did the best I could." I used to think it would get easier and that they'd all start to blend in to each other by now, but it doesn't. Just like how I remember every bloody thing about the girl from my year who didn't make it. Would she have made a better mentor? I'll never know, and I have only the Capitol to thank for that.

Maybe I'll start a new wood carving tonight.

[Blue and Regus]

Congratulations on your training scores and surviving the interview. A six won't rule out sponsors, and an eight makes you look solid, but hopefully won't piss the Careers off. You've both been a credit to yourselves, but just remember whatever's happened up until now means pretty much zilch when you get in the Arena.

Put distance between yourselves and the Cornucopia as soon as possible. When you're looking for water, head downhill. And if there's a Gamemaker-planned attack on you at any point, remember that certain parts of the Arena are triggered for certain attacks, so keep on moving if possible, and you'll eventually reach the end of the area. Don't light a fire too close to sunset on the first night, as the Careers will be armed, well rested and on the prowl. Keep your wits about you at all times.

And best of luck.

[Blue]

I imagine your mind is already made up, but the mentor from 12 contacted me about the possibility of you and his boy in an alliance.

[end ward]

[Surah]

My little girl is interested in having your boy as an ally, so I'm passing it along. Has he expressed any thoughts on her?

[/ward]

[Nine Team]

So far there's been two water stations, when in previous years there often isn't even one. It could be just the Gamemakers trying to be clever, but I still want you two to act as though you may have to deal with water in some context (in Danna Wayfield's year for example, there was a flood) and learn as much as you can at these stations. Any observations or concerns you have about today's training? Want anyone for an ally/still aren't interested?

Turmeric and I have been working on this, but do you have any thoughts on what you'd like your angle to be for Flickerman's interview?

[Blue and Regus]

I'd also like to thank you for being willing to learn and receptive to my suggestions. I know of at least one team who has had trouble with their tribute, as well as having to deal with that myself in the past, and I'm glad it's not the case for you two.

[Turmeric]

I'll talk to Blue some more about how she's going to approach the interview. Perhaps we could use the audience sympathy angle, but it has to be her choice what she reveals about herself or not. I think the main thing is to try and get her to feel comfortable since she won't say much, and hopefully some of her more childlike side will come out and endear the audience to her. Caesar has a gift for putting his subjects at ease, fortunately.

Regus also seems to be looking out for her. The protective brother/little sister relationship might be something. I don't know. Just throwing a few ideas out.

[/ward]

[Blue Turner, Regus Brayton, and Turmeric Deturpar]

Congratulations on your debut. Blue, some citizens in particular noticed your teeth. You looked defiant and unfazed, and there are people with money who like the idea of an underdog, so well done.

Regus, that strong and silent thing is really working for you so far. Often during the build up to the Games, the bigger you are, the less you have to say to stand out. One, Two and Four usually get the lion's share of punters, but there are plenty of people who pay attention to powerful looking tributes from other districts.

Today is the first day of training. I suggest you both focus on the edible plants station, camoflage and how to avoid detection, since while there's usually food at the Cornucopia, my strategy is not to have you two in the thick of things. If there's a pool, try to learn enough to float and to tread water. If there's any weaponry you particularly excel at, avoid showing your full strength in front of the other tributes, if you use that station at all. I want both of you to avoid drawing too much attention to yourselves during the training sessions. Better to say too little than too much at this stage of the Games.

You also need to decide whether you want Turmeric and I to coach you separately or together.

[Turmeric]

The girl. She's intriguing, but she has very limited conversational abilities. How should we approach the interview?

[Mentors who haven't had a Victor, and Hotswap]

Guess who got the twelve year old this time.

[end private]