#that's them as they remember this

[kalu-luwa]

ever in your favor pt. 5

a.k.a a continuation of this series, inspiration from @tunabesimpin‘s hunger games event, in the style of a flashback (day 4 basically gives neph a hatchet and insomnia, nothing too major)

special mention goes to sasha (@simpingseafood’s oc)

i’m very sorry if i got their characters wrong or did them too dirty! please tell me so i can fix it ;;

also, please tell me if you don’t want to get tagged!

tw/cw: death (implied at the beginning), bullying, they basically take a bash at neph and everything about them, OOC for OCs and canon (sorry ;;), swearing, i’ll add more as i go along

can you tell i copied most of the reaping scene dialogue from the movie?

(under the cut for dash length)

They turned away in time to hurl whatever they had eaten prior. All of it, until they were coughing up blood and crying their eyes red. This was the third time now, and this one they couldn’t forget.

They didn’t mean to, they promised, repenting to someone who could never hear them.

-

"You've been what?" Semyon's voice thundered across the hall, spooking the everliving shit out of Neph.

"I've been selected as tribute," they replied, wringing their hands nervously. "I- I don't even know how."

The trip to the marketplace was certainly eventful. Larger crowds meant more difficulty in traversing the narrow streets, but also greater chances of being pickpocketed. Throw in total blindness, and you would have a recipe for disaster. The most unusual thing, however, was not the sudden increase in foot traffic, nor the lack of shopkeepers attending to their stalls, but the odd silence that hung in the aromatic air.

"...for the honour of representing District 4 in the annual Hunger Games," a woman spoke, her voice echoing out into the unmoving crowds. "Let us begin."

Murmurs and whispers filled the space between as the people wavered and worried. Mothers hoped their babies wouldn't be chosen, mouthing silent prayers to whatever god could hear them. Fathers held their children close, as if keeping them in their arms would deter the guards from taking them away. The little ones, who were too young and innocent, kept quiet, fisting their parent's clothes and hiding behind their legs. The older ones, stubborn and brash as they were, puffed out their chests, a display of foolish courage and bravado. The career tributes were braver still, whooping and whistling. There was no one better than them in that regard; they were the cream of the crop in all of District 4.

Yet the names she called out were not any of them.

"Our first tribute…" a pause. The crinkling of paper. The faint feedback of the microphone and speakers. "Nephtali Rivke."

A small uproar from the front, the career tributes braying viciously. "Them? The poor thing? They're representing District 4?"

"Blind as a bat, that one. You're making a big mistake!"

"One of us would be better. Look at them! So sickly and weak, they wouldn't last a day out there!"

"Such a shame, this year's Hunger Game won't be our victory if they're going."

Yet none of them volunteered to take their place. This was… odd. Shouldn't they be willing to volunteer? This was an honor for them, so why…?

The masses parted, cleft in two to let Nephtali walk up the stage. Their feet, however, refused to budge. Them? As tribute? They weren't even registered on the census, even if they were well-known in the community. The only way this would've happen is if someone had given their name to the Capitol representatives. It wasn't until a cold metal hand grabbed their arm, pulling them forward, did Nephtali move. The guards had no decorum, showing them clumsily next to the Capitol woman.

"A first for District 4, sending in one of their lower castes," a mocking lilt in her voice, all too happy to see them suffer, "It would add to the diversity. And they will be our first blind victor to ever win the Hunger Games… that is, if they last that long."

"Hah, as if," one of the career tributes snorted, "Nephtali will never make it to the Feast like that."

If Neph could step down from the stage and break that person's kneecaps, they would.

"Moving on," the woman turned away, fishing out another piece of paper, "Our next tribute is… Sasha German."

A few more rumbles from the assembly, but none of the career tributes made a sound. Was this person one of their own?

"Oh great, here comes one of the middle-class." Apparently not.

"How lovely!" The woman cheered, tone too saccharine to be considered joyful, "An older tribute! A beacon of hope for the rest of us past our prime."

There was a wave of laughter from the people, some of them exclaiming that this 'Sasha' was still in his early twenties. The man in question just laughed nervously, almost tripping on the second step.

"Here we are. Our tributes from District 4," the Capitol representative exclaimed, a hand on both of their shoulders. "Well, come on you two. Shake hands now."

It might’ve been from the shock, or the hunger pangs they've had since yesterday, but Neph wasn't all that fazed by being chosen as tribute. Idly, they studied their fellow tribute, feeling his rough hand in theirs.

Sasha, they mused, a wonderful name. Defender of mankind.

"Happy Hunger Games, and may the odds be ever in your favor."

-

"What the fuck, Nephtali?!"

"Semyon, I didn't know either! Don't blame it on me!!"

"Why didn't you tell me?!" The older one groaned, pacing the room frantically, "I would've volunteered!"

"And risk you losing your life? Are you insane?"

"And you aren't? Marnya and the others are after me, what are you going to tell them?"

"God, I don't know…" Neph whined, dropping their head onto the table. "I didn't expect a market trip to end up like this…"

"I was asleep, you should've woken me up," Semyon sat down in front of them, slender fingers running through their hair. "We could've gotten you out of this."

"How?" They tilted their head upwards, tears in their eyes, "We can't bribe them… even if we could, we don't have enough money."

"I could've volunteered in your place."

"That's the same thing as me going, Sem. Elias will cry if you leave."

Semyon sighed, pressing his forehead against Neph's. "I don't know what else you want me to say, sunshine."

"I'm scared, Sem. I don't want to die, not yet."

"Then don't," He concluded with an air of finality, holding them closer, "Don't die. Come back home to us. To me."

"How? I don't know how to."

"Don't rely on other people. They'll only disappoint you. You're not here to make friends. Vulnerability is a weakness, and no one will help you," his grip tightened on their hair, almost growling in their ear, "You're on your own there, Neph. Be careful."

"Aren't the others human too? What if- what if they wanted to help?"

"When it comes down to survival, mi ocelle, they will always prioritize themselves over you."

"But-"

"All is fair in love and war, Nephtali. This is a fight to the death, nothing is fair."

-

"Marnie, where is Nephi going?” Little Elias asked, swinging his legs idly as he sat on Nephtali’s lap. The youngest out of all their siblings, and the only other one who wanted to see them before they left.

“They’re…” Marnya stopped, stifling a sob. “They’re just going to do something important. They won’t be back for… well, they’ll be there for a long time, Eli.”

They always hated it when their sister cried.

“What’re you gonna do?” Elias’ attention turned to their eldest sibling. “Are you gonna bring something back?”

So innocent. They wished he would never lose that, or grow up the same way they did. “I’m gonna play a very dumb game, my heart. If I win, you can eat all the cookies you want, hm?”

He gasped, giggling lightly. “As many cookies as I want?”

“You can have them for breakfast, lunch, and dinner,” they smiled, patting his head softly, “You might even get sick of it.”

“No, never!” They all shared a laugh at this, the mood lightening for a brief moment. Elias snuggled further into their hug, humming contentedly. “Come home safe, please?”

“I will. I promise.”

-

“You’re not coming home, are you?” Marnya asked, leaning against her sibling one last time.

Nephtali grimaced, closing their eyes. This had to be a dream. It had to be. No one was this unlucky to be chosen, and then forced to lie to their youngest brother. “I don’t know.”

“Did Semyon talk to you earlier?”

“Yeah, he did. I asked him to take care of you guys while I was away.”

“He won’t be the same as you, y’know.” Marnya chuckled, a sad and pitiful sound. Their hands clasped together, tight and firm.

“It’s only temporary.”

“I don’t think you mean that.”

“I’ll try my best to come home to you all. Sem told me how.”

“He’s not the best person to take advice from.”

“Better than nothing.”

“What about that Sasha guy?”

“Middle-class, not a career tribute. He might actually have a better shot than me.”

“Nephtali,” she let go of their hand, cupping their face instead, “I don’t ever want to see him come back here.”

The fisher scrunched their face up, mouth set in a playful snarl. “Marnie, that’s so rude of you. He has a family of his own as well. Don’t they want their son and/or brother to come home too?”

“Can’t I be selfish for once?” She pinched their cheeks, stretching them like a stress ball. “Only one of you can come home, and I desperately hope it’s you.”

“I wish we could both go home.”

“I know, but this is real life. We can’t always get our way.”

A silence enveloped the two, stuck in their own world together. Just being together made Neph so extremely happy, relishing in this final moment with their younger sister. They didn’t know when this would happen next. It probably won’t even happen again.

“It’s time.” A guard walked into the room, nodding at Marnya and Neph.

“Please, can’t we have one more minute?” She asked, turning her focus to the intruder.

“I’m sorry, we have to follow protocol.” At least she was being nice about it, guards are usually… not the best of people.

Marnya sighed, getting onto her knees. “Alright, Neph. This is really it now.”

“Hm.”

“Come home to us, okay?”

“I’ll try.”

“We love you. So much.”

They smiled, hugging her one last time. “I love you all too. Wait for me, please.”

[titleofpersonage-p01]

[whats-this-mustelid]

I just think that 'animals are living intelligent creatures that have feelings and deserve to be respected' and 'when done properly farming is beneficial to both people and animals and there's nothing wrong with raising and killing animals for food, clothing, and other products' are concepts that very much can and should coexist

[goryfluff]

Nautilus expedition live streams (+ their commentary) 2020 / 2021 / 2022

[aesrot]

shout out to people who's family isnt entirely bad or entirely good, but something in between and you dont know how to feel about them. you feel angry but you also feel guilty, because you know they genuinely love and care about you, but sometimes they show it in a way you know its not okay. your feelings are valid, your anger and sadness and grief are valid, and you dont have to prove this to no one. bigger shout out to those with memory issues who know something isnt right but can't recall all of the bad events, only the feelings, which only increases the guilt.

[payasita]

being a manager sucks balls half the time but the cashier kids im in charge of trust me enough to dick around in front of me so ive been keeping a running list of the shit they say that makes me laugh randomly: -"guys, is it cheating if you play fortnite with your ex" [4 seperate others, immediately]: "YES" -"there must be like… infinite sentences" -"bro what bro what the fuck bro what's that mean bro why'd you say that bro what" <distraught response to a girl randomly greeting him with 'hey there big boy' in an old timey transatlantic news reporter accent

[anotherpapercut]

genuinely it will never stop baffling me how people will wear twilight shirts and talk about team Edward vs team Jacob and then the same people will be like "I'm not basing my personality off of a piece of media (harry potter) made by a transphobe 😌" like good that's great! so you can excuse racism but you draw the line at transphobia? good to know

[lumpsbumpsandwhumps]

I made this callout meme for me and me specifically

[ultravioletness]

I’ve been making gay knights (and ladies) collages on my phone at work

(Part two)

[skeleton-squid-boy]

you have GOT to remember when watching the new doctor who that the question is not is this good. doctor who is only ever actually 'good' once a season at most. THE ONLY QUESTION IS is it fun, camp, and has aliens. also remember the worst doctor who showrunner is always the current doctor who showrunner. now go watch the new episodes as god intended like you're ten years old and still remember how to experience joy and whimsy.

[watchingwisteria]

listen there really was just something about how in the book, snow’s 3-page descent from hesitant lover boy to deluded psychopath happens entirely in his mind. lucy gray gives him no indication whatsoever that she suspects him, that she’s going to leave or betray him. he’s just sitting quietly in the cabin waiting for her to return when that seed of calculated suspicion, which he has needed to survive the capitol, takes a hold of him and chokes the life out of any goodness left inside him. it really drives home your terror as a reader that “oh my god did he kill her? did she escape? what happened to her? why would he even think that?” in a way that when the movie had to adjust for visualization it lost some of that holy shit this guy has lost it emphasis.

[ronanlynchbf]

tshirt that says NO LIVE ORGANISM CAN CONTINUE FOR LONG TO EXIST SANELY UNDER CONDITIONS OF ABSOLUTE REALITY

[spiderversegf]

one important thing that Must be understood about interpersonal relationships is that you have to stop interacting with people who love you like they’re one slip-up away from leaving you. you have to trust that the ppl you love mean what they say. you have to believe that when they say “this hurt my feelings,” that they’re also saying, “can you please love me this other way next time?” and you have to wrap your head around the fact that even if you don’t understand Why someone loves you, you can accept that that they do. true, honest, & open love does not function like hp in a video game !!!!!!

[somerandomdudelmao]

Part 12!

It came out pretty chaotic haha. I don’t regret anything though~

Part 1 Next

[rubydubydoo122]

I saw someone say a while ago that Jason attacking Tim at Titans Tower was just Tim hallucinating bc he was feeling guilty about being Robin even though Jason's not dead. Which is great, amazing, I think the whole Titans Tower thing is Bonkers, but I think it would be so much funnier if Jason tried to Gaslight Tim into believing the Titans Tower incident never happened, not because he's like evil, he's just super embarassed about it. like Or Tim did actually hallucinate Jason at TT but thinks it was real, so when he tells Jason about it, Jason's so fucking confused, and Tim thinks Jason's Gaslighting him

Tim: Remember that time when you broke into Titans Tower and beat me half to death while wearing a Robin costume from party city

Jason: What? Tim, I know i'm crazy, but I'm not...Insane.

Tim, pulling down his collar: I literally have the scar to prove it

Jason: Bruce told me that was from Clayface pretending to be me, which, might I just say rude. Tim... are you ok? Did you hallucinate me attacking you? like, I know I've done that before, but...

Tim, frowning: I don't think I hallucinating. I was benched for a while after because I had to recover-

Jason: well, you were benched around the time I was dropping hints that I knew who Bruce was outside of Batman, he probably just benched you to keep you safe. You probably were working too many cases with too little sleep and your imagination started to run wild.

Tim: Are you gaslighting me?

Jason: Are you gaslighting me?