proeliiator

[proeliiator]

i. Kaveh Akbar, "My Father's Accent" from Pilgrim Bell | ii. Hayley Williams, "Simmer" from Petals for Armor | iii. Sjohnna McCray, "Portrait of my Father as a Young Black Man" from Rapture

[proeliiator]

𝐇𝐔𝐍𝐆𝐄𝐑 𝐆𝐀𝐌𝐄𝐒 𝐈𝐍𝐒𝐏𝐈𝐑𝐄𝐃 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐌𝐏𝐓𝐒 (a collection of prompts inspired by the universe of the Hunger Games. Feel free to adjust phrasing and gendered terms as necessary.)

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐁𝐔𝐓𝐄𝐒

"One more kill."

"I have to win."

"Run!"

"I'm scared…"

"I'll keep you safe."

"I volunteer as tribute."

"We should be allies."

"Is that all you can do?"

"You don't scare me."

"I don't need weak allies."

"I don't want to die in there."

"The odds are not really in our favor."

"I'm more than just a piece in their Games."

"Are we gonna fight, or are we gonna chat?"

"I'll bring pride to my district."

"I don't have much competition here."

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐒

"Let's talk strategy."

"Smile for the cameras."

"I'm here to help you."

"You need sponsors."

"You're not going to die."

"You're gonna have to trust me."

"I know how you're feeling."

"I'm not losing a tribute again."

"Here's some advice: stay alive."

"Just try to appeal to the crowd."

"Don't even try to go to the cornucopia."

"This mentoring is very taxing stuff."

"Unless you want to die, you should listen to me."

"You're gonna have to be a lot more likable than that."

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐕𝐈𝐂𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐒

"I earned this."

"I deserved this win."

"I'm the luckiest, aren't I?"

"No one is a victor by chance."

"I did what I had to do to win."

"You never really leave the arena."

"Every day it gets a little easier."

"The nightmares never really end..."

"I have nothing to lose, now."

"I can never truly go home."

"They've hurt everyone I love."

"You belong to the Capitol now."

"I'm so grateful to the Capitol."

"I'm so rich and famous and miserable."

"No decent person ever wins the Games."

"Are you really surprised? I'm the best!"

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐀𝐏𝐈𝐓𝐎𝐋

"Manners!"

"I'm rooting for you!"

"What is this outfit?"

"I love this district."

"Feathers are so last year."

"Happy Hunger Games!"

"You're my favorite victor!"

"I can't believe you're wearing that."

"Let the Hunger Games begin!"

"I'm wearing the latest trends."

"I think someone's a little nervous."

"Who's your favorite tribute this year?"

"Are you betting on anyone?"

"May the odds be ever in your favor."

"The Games are so boring this year."

"I am so excited for the Hunger Games."

"If I could bet on someone, I'd bet on you."

[proeliiator]

— song used is Appetite for Destruction by Vo Williams .

[proeliiator]

cato's carrd, playlist, and pinterest have been refreshed ❤

[proeliiator]

[proeliiator]

TIP TOES, TRYING TO SEE PAST MY EGO. I'M REACHING FOR SOMETHING MORE THAN THIS FEELING OF BEING IMPORTANT. LEAVING MY HEART BEHIND, IT'S BLEEDING. BUT STILL MY PRIDE IS SCREAMING!

Penned by Satine . Established January 2024 , Revived May 2025 !

[proeliiator]

"A personality? Oh, sure." Cato replied without missing a beat, "I must have missed it under that mask of yours." He flashed her a quick, taunting smile in the dark. It seemed to him like the blonde was always trying so hard to put on an artificial show of being a person instead of actually being a person herself. But that was District 1 for you, a lot of showmanship but not a lot of substance. What did it say about him that Cato actually enjoyed Glimmer's company all things considered, despite not trusting her as far as he could throw her?

"Wow, how selfless of you to give up your precious beauty sleep to keep me company. I'm touched." Cato said, words coated in sarcasm, as he rolled his dark blue eyes in agitation. They both knew the real reason she wasn't willing to sleep now was because she trusted Cato as much as he trusted Glimmer. He smirked as he considered his suspicion to have been confirmed. Weirdly enough, Glimmer's distrust made him slightly less annoyed about losing out on sleep himself, but only slightly. Her distrust in this particular scenario was unfounded, but even still. She had no way of knowing that and Cato could respect a healthy dose of caution.

"Fine. Whatever. We'll both keep watch then." He grunted, crossing his arms over his chest as he looked out at the landscape surrounding them.

The arena had stripped away the facade of perfection, leaving behind a rawness that only the discerning eye would catch. Though even the lack of Capitol luxuries couldn't completely dim the radiance that lingered in her features. What were once perfectly plucked and maintained brows, now slightly disheveled; not that many would notice, lifted to a curious arch.

There were some things in this wide world that would never fail to befuddle Glimmer. Such as how even upon stirring from his slumber, or so she believed, Cato could still manage to retain that award-winning charm. Surely he must have been SUCH a heartthrob back in his district where the only thing that mattered was brutality, not charisma. At least that's how she had viewed those of District 2. Soldiers. True soldiers.

"How very funny." The words passed from her lips with a slight edge. "I have a personality. A foreign concept to you, I know. But some of us actually like to be liked and talk to other people." The words carried a subtle edge, a playful jab at Cato's stoic demeanor.

Glimmer's lips curled into a sly smile, her response layered with both confidence and a hint of mischief. "How generous of you. But you know how I cherish my beauty sleep. I wouldn't want you to suffer through the excitement of watch duty alone." She retorted, her rejection carrying impish glee of a bratty sibling reveling in thwarting an older brother's attempt to be considerate.

[proeliiator]

“ well , i can respect your opinion . ” cato announced with an even , if a little flat , affect . “ sadly , i’m not good at rejection . ” he went on to add with his usual touch of bravado , the implied threat hanging heavy in the air as he grinned .

[proeliiator]

“Rule #1 never be #2”

— (via deseptions)

[proeliiator]

“ all the danger helped take me out of myself . . . ” cato explained reluctantly with a dismissive shrug , not really wanting to elaborate further .

[proeliiator]

In his solo victory verse, Cato is more stoic and perpetually bruised from run-ins with inanimate objects during bouts of boiled over rage. Instead of trying to hide all the bruises and scrapes, his stylist incorporates the marks into their designs, even going so far as to highlight them by adding an iridescent sheen or fleck of gold filigree to the bruises to catch the light. After all, Cato's appeal is that he's an unyielding warrior and what's a warrior without badges of violence? Cato can't make himself care enough to point out the contradiction or absurdity of it.

[proeliiator]

𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐬𝐭𝐲 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐭𝐬 𝐩𝐭. 𝟏

i’ve made emotional ones before but also, angst?? bon appetit!

“ i can’t do this alone… “

“ i can’t do this without you. “

“ nothing is worth losing you. “

“ i can’t lose you! not again! “

“ i don’t wanna lose you! “

“ i love you… “

“ i never should’ve dragged you into this. “

“ you’re not alone, [NAME]… you never were. “

“ if something happened to you… that would be because of me. and i can’t have that. “

“ …did you know about this? “ “ this is all my fault… “

“ i/we/you lost… “

“ you won’t win. “ “ this path you’re on… it’s gonna get you killed. you know that, though; don’t you? “

“ i can’t stop. “

“ you would tell me if something was wrong. wouldn’t you? “

“ it’s like you’re not really here; even when you are. “

“ don’t you get it?! if anything happens to you, i… i don’t know what i’d do! “

“ you have no idea how important you are to me, and i’m tired of waiting for you to figure it out, and i sure as hell won’t wait to announce it over your reckless ass’ grave! “

“ no! i’m not leaving without you! “

“ i can’t do this anymore… “

“ you don’t even know me. “

“ what have you done?! “

“ you’re shaking… “

“ i’ve… made some mistakes. “

“ you are nothing to me. “

“ you were never nothing to me… “

“ stop it. enough of this self-sacrificing bullshit! stop acting like you have nobody who loves you! you have me! so no! you don’t get to be a martyr. not today! we can figure out a different plan… “

“ i would’ve done anything for you… “

“ i’d risk everything and anything for you. “

“ i’m not a good person. “

“ please don’t look at me like that… “

“ i believed in you! “

“ we can’t lose… “

“ what?! what am i supposed to do?! please! tell me, what the hell am i supposed to do?! “

“ please, just go… i’m not the kind of person anyone needs to be around right now. “

“ what happened to you? huh? what happened to you to make you this way? “

“ they’re coming for you. right? that’s why you’re pushing me away like an idiot? because you don’t want me getting hurt? “

“ nothing’s going to be as good as it was before. “

“ you lied to me! “

“ i didn’t mean for any of this to happen! “

“ i can’t trust you anymore… “

“ i know it’s selfish. god knows, ever since we met, i’ve been the reason behind every threat and danger that’s come your way. but… i honestly can’t say that i’d change a second of it. “

“ it’s been an honour knowing you. “

“ there’s nobody else i can turn to. only you. “

“ i don’t trust anybody else. not the way i trust you. “

“ we have no choice… “

“ why?! why are you helping me?! “

“ it’s too late. there’s nothing more we can do… “

“ please don’t go… don’t leave me. “

“ you are everything to me. okay? EVERYTHING. i can’t lose you… “

“ you deserve better than this… better than me… “

“ i thought i could give you a better life. instead, i’m the reason it’s gotten worse… i’m so sorry. “

[proeliiator]

danny griffin as sky

→ 1/∞ — are you a good witch or a bad witch?

[proeliiator]

@beautycursed asked: “I’m big enough to admit that I am often inspired by myself.”

cato doesn't know whether to heave a sigh or bark a laugh, so the noise that tears from him is a mix of both. " you have no shame. " it isn't a question, but a statement.

he's hardly one to talk when it comes to inflated egos, but he's not quite self-aware enough to clock that. after all, his ego has been so reinforced that it feels undeniable. he shakes his head at glimmer and claps her on the shoulder. " you inspire me too actually. you inspire me to think before speaking. thanks for that. " he flashes her a wide, self-satisfied smile, amused by his own joke.

parks and rec prompts. // still accepting .

[proeliiator]

@sacrificus asked: clara paget for the npc ask !

Vesta Fevre — A bladesmith who (barely) tolerated Cato's questions about her craft only if he bribed her with dark chocolates. Even in a wealthier District like two, it's hard to get access to such a luxury item. However, there's a girl around his age who lives next door to him and her mother makes a few trips to the Capitol for work each year. Her mother does restoration and upkeep on marblework throughout the Capitol. After a work trip, she'd bring back a box of chocolates for her daughter.

Lucky for Cato, the girl was always trying to get his attention so she had a habit of offering him dark chocolates on the pretense that she didn't like those ones. Before his whole life became training, he would eat half of the chocolates himself and take the other half to Vesta in exchange for her letting him pester her for hours inside her workshop.

Vesta has a reputation for keeping to herself and not being particularly warm or friendly to anyone. Her husband is a Peacekeeper and is stationed in District 8. Her only child died of illness when he was young. Vesta would never admit it, but once Cato stopped coming around, she missed the company.

npc faceclaims prompt. // accepting for always, these are fun ! (gifs source)

[proeliiator]

@beautycursed asked: “I totally hear you, but, erm, I also don’t like what you’re saying.”

cato growled out her name in exasperation, dark blue eyes flicking up to bore into the blonde from where he was sitting by the fire they'd built. no point in trying to be stealthy. they were the scariest things in the arena. for now. might as well enjoy that peace of mind it while it lasted, right?

" i didn't ask you to like it, but it is what we're doing. " cato countered gruffly, daring her to fight him on the issue.

ㅤ" what's the problem, girlie? worried you might mess up your hair? "

parks and rec prompts. // still accepting .

[proeliiator]

definitely don't listen to this song (or 'i died with you' by the same band) on repeat while thinking about cato . . .