𝐅𝐈𝐋𝐄𝐃 𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑 ─ alunsei
“you can think whatever you want of me,” sei candidly replies. she slips back into her preferred state of silence when the victor continues to speak. “you want me to be honest? well, i think you just need a real hobby, nero. then again, so does everybody else in the capitol. i guess that’s how you know that you’ve made it.”
SHE NODS SARCASTICALLY , SOFT FEATURES MORPHING & shifting as she’s given unwanted advice . ❝ i already think whatever i want of you – i think you won’t last a day in the arena , you know why ? ❞ she leans forward . ❝ the games are my hobby . it’s what spelled my victory , it’s how i know you’re not walking out alive – i hope you said all your goodbyes . ❞
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𝐅𝐈𝐋𝐄𝐃 𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑 ─ foolsgoldcn
∖ ❝ @vincered· !
𝐇𝐄 𝐅𝐄𝐄𝐋𝐒 out of place in this outfit, something to be gawked at and stared at like some sort of commodity - and he supposes he is. the makeup too, something altogether foreign as he runs his fingers over his lips and tastes the lingering flavor of chapstick left there. so this is what the capitol wanted, and while he is supposed to be ready for this sequence of events, it’s leaves him like a fish out of water. ( fish reminds him of love. kind of funny, really. he wonders if she’d watched the parade. he hoped she did - if even to keep apart of her with him. ) he and grier exit their chosen chariot, and still it’s like a dream, eyes seeming to be glazed over like he’s somewhere else as he’s approached by a familiar smaller figure. a hand raises to brush over his shoulder, heart beat beginning to slow post the burst of adrenaline inspired by the crowd. he misses his home. he misses coralia.
HAWK LIKE EYES HAVE BEEN SPENT OBSERVING THE SPONSORS with pockets so deep that the quarries back home are envious . the capitol plays favorites , they yell a little louder for their most loved districts than the others – the wealthier , the better . she can remember her own parade , how the cheers for her were so deafening her ears rang like bells for hours . the cries tonight remind her of victory – her second year & she longs to bring home a victor , a champion worthy of the crown she clings onto so tightly . grier has it in the bag , a born & bred victor from two heroes themselves – her worry is HIM . theo , who didn’t volunteer , who’s eyes linger around , who looks like a career tribute but who’s real identity remains hidden to her . ❝ hey . ❞ she snaps , gaining her attention while her neck cranes to look up at him . ❝ how’re you feeling right now ? be honest . ❞
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𝐅𝐈𝐋𝐄𝐃 𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑 ─ gclddvst
it is terrifying , to see people believe in him so unfailingly . because he knows that sooner or later , they will be let down — and for someone like nero , who he cares so much about , it’s going to hurt both of them . in her eyes he can do no wrong , in his own it is all he ever does . “ i’m not that popular , nero . ” her own popularity far eclipses his own , he is sure . while his performance as a tribute may have impressed the capitol , his life as a victor has been borderline reclusive , and he is sure that his favour with the capitol diminishes more and more every year . they cannot coerce him into their games with threats against his family — he recalls the one time that snow tried it , and his expression when asher replied ( evenly , calmly , politely ) with all due respect , president , i don’t consider those people my parents .
he agrees with everything nero is saying , as much as he likes juniper . as much as he wants her not to die . she isn’t the kind of person who wins the games , even with all that fire . he just can’t see her killing anyone . although most people who’d known him before probably couldn’t have seen asher killing anyone either … and yet here he is . “ and , of course , their expert mentor — nero waterway , everyone’s favourite victor . ” asher flashes her a smile , though his head is full of thoughts that do not align themselves with such an expression . he is homesick for a time before all this , long , long before when his brother was still with him . when he was the child , the one that needed to be cared for rather than the one doing the caring .
INCAPABLE OF MUCH , SHE STILL MANAGES A GENUINE bashful smile as the words leave his lips . there’s no doubt they’ve each got their own plethora of adoring fans , of devoted followers who probably know more about them than they know themselves . it’s self admitted that nero finds the limelight more often than other victors do – she relishes in the heat from the spotlight that shines on her in the capitol . asher , though QUIET , though spent more time slumbering as a hermit does than at the lavish parties she finds herself at – is popular . the capitol in all their errors love the extravagance of the games – they long for the cruelty & savagery that both the victors displayed . he may stay quiet , his name’s gone down in history . ❝ you really are that popular – i went to a party yesterday & all they could talk about were your games . you know you’re an example in some schools , apparently ? ❞
but she quiets , enjoys the attention for a second longer . no matter how much she gets , nero won’t ever tire of the eyes on her , of the awe struck mouths that drop in her presence . egotistic in her way , she takes every glance with stride & a wide smile on innocent features . she allows the compliment , enjoys the way his lips spread into a smile ( genuine ? has she ever seen a genuine smile on asher lau ? maybe after her win , a victory tour – ) for a beat before she shakes her head – again . when the games are on , the mentors are the least talked about until the games begin . only when sponsors NEED to send gifts do they remember the victors that they’re supposed to love forever . ❝ please , ❞ she laughs , a raw chuckle from the back of her throat crawls out . ❝ it’s parade night – i’m the last thing on people’s minds . everyone’s too focused on making bets & choosing favorite tributes . ❞
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200516 ⭑ immortal song
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𝐅𝐈𝐋𝐄𝐃 𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑 ─ rvckets
flashback ─ post 72nd games .
caspian’s not really sure what he wants nero to say either. he’s sat on the idea of what she did like a broken tape stuck on replay. it was a NEVER ENDING journey of going through the same path over and over. in the end, he came to terms with the fact there really wasn’t anything nero was meant to say. it was a life or death situation and he understands that, caspian truly does. he still sits with the silent trauma of his brother in the games — held no remorse while he desperately wanted his brother to win and feeling slightly guilty at the same time for not caring how his brother won. it was the same situation for nero, but maybe at the same time it wasn’t. he was a part of her scheme to lead cassia to her demise, something he told nero with his own guilt and sorrow for feelings left UNREQUITED on his part. maybe it was fucked — completely messed up that it wasn’t that nero had to put her life first before friendship, but she used him to complete a mission. caspian trust nero — this was NERO and the only thing he can think is that he could never trust her again. he felt stupid, foolish, ridiculous. caspian doesn’t understand why he had to use him as a way to take down one more opponent.
an APOLOGY doesn’t make any sense to him if he was waiting around for one. his life wasn’t in danger, he was safe. nero could easily throw it back in his face that she was the one fighting for his life while he was left behind. she wouldn’t be wrong. maybe caspian wants a good explanation of why he was name dropped in the first place, using something he told her privately because he TRUSTED her to be thrown back at the person he literally made even sadder before they were rushed to the capital. caspian’s silent for a few moments, going over the million things swimming through his head. “yeah, i don’t know what i want you to say either. maybe explain to me why my name was brought up in the first place.” she’s close by, not far by any means, but it feels like she’s ��MILES AWAY now — her tone a dead giveaway things were shifting and changing. “i’m sorry, what? you made her MEMORABLE? are you talking about the same person or are we both agreeing you’re talking about yourself here?” he shakes his head, refusing to make eye contact with her still. “it wasn’t about winning, alright? it’s not about what you had to do. it’s not that, nero.”
GIFTED & CURSED BY EROS HIMSELF , HER CONSCIOUSNESS sits in an empty room lined with old books . lore forbidden by the capitol , the old house so run down that if nero were any bigger , she’d fall through the old floorboards . it’s here she finds a quiet solace , the waves & the district four scenery fade away , leaving her lying on her stomach with her feet kicked up . underneath her elbows lay an old book , the tale of echo as she falls in love with NARCISSUS ; destined to follow him around & fail to ever be with him the way she wants . is she echo or narcissus in this ? BOTH , she considers , choosing to once again turn away from caspian . at the end of the dock , she tucks her legs in & bows her head , not even a lifetime of training can hide the hurt that writes onto soft features . always hyper - aware of her surroundings , of the way she looks & presents herself to be , nero decides in the moment she is both narcissus & echo . in love with herself as much as she is with him ; but both were cursed , neither one gets a happy ending at the end of the story .
her lips tuck in , ash colored hair falling into her face while she wraps her arms around her legs . augustus always told her love was a waste of time anyway , the hurt that spreads through her chest is a painful reminder of what it feels like to allow herself to LOVE . it’s comparable to hearing the news of her brother’s death , but caspian isn’t dead - he just considers her WRONG . all the people who’ve thought her as monster , he never has until now . ❝ you’ve never been in the games , caspian , you’ve never had to make that call . they want a SHOW , it was either give her a memorable goodbye or let her fade into nothingness . ❞ she ignores his question - afraid of admitting his name danced on both of their lips because of the same fantasy they both had ; returning alive into his arms . she pushes her hair out of her face instead , coming to terms with monstrosity quicker than she can blink . ❝ i don’t know what else to say , i don’t know what you want me to do because if i had to do it again , i wouldn’t change a thing . would you ? ❞
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𝐅𝐈𝐋𝐄𝐃 𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑 ─ irrcvocable
𝖍𝖔𝖜 𝖋𝖆𝖗 𝖜𝖎𝖑𝖑 𝖘𝖍𝖊 𝖌𝖔 ? a question posed by a woman who hides evil under a well –– crafted guise of innocence , one who spills wicked words with an ease that only serves as a reminder of how nero ascended to her throne . an eyebrow is raised , cruel deeds listed off like they are nothing . nero waterway has committed atrocities that colored her path to glory a dark crimson , and juniper knows that if she is to survive she must travel the same road and reach towards the same throne . one occupied by the desperate and the vicious . one that sits upon broken bones , one that promises a golden crown and carries constant whispers of ghosts that never truly stop haunting the souls that took their lives . juniper is being led to slaughter , and the path ahead splits in two ––––– to sacrifice her humanity and let her blade drip red with the blood of those who must fall if she is to rise and sit upon the very throne so many killers have occupied , tainting her hands a crimson that will never be washed away when the horrors she must commit without a moment of hesitation are broadcast for all to see . when obstacles become more than those standing in her way and gain faces , and names , when their families resent her for the brutality she must exert to take their lives to keep her own . or to die .
𝖏𝖚𝖓𝖎𝖕𝖊𝖗'𝖘 𝖎𝖘 𝖓𝖔𝖙 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖔𝖓𝖑𝖞 life at stake . one of twenty –– four , an unobservant eye may skim over the girl from the poor district who had a moment of ferocity during her reaping before fading into the shadow of the tributes favored by all odds . they may label her a gentle girl , incapable of taking a life . no , juniper is not the only one who will enter the arena in hopes of staying alive ––––– but the girl knows herself . fear has never paralyzed her . rather , it fuels the brash movements of a girl who will fight against death with her bare hands and a snarl if necessary . there is no doubt when juniper’s mask coalesces into hard marble as doubt shifts into resolution . the moment her name was called at the reaping , a fire was lit within a girl who has already started her shift into monster . if survivors must cut tongues and drink the blood they spilled , if they must turn against friends and break the bones that lay crushed beneath their thrones , juniper will do it all . ‘ i will go as far as i have to . ’ though there is no thirst for blood she yearns to satiate , no crown of laurels her hands reach out for , death terrifies her to the point of juniper willingly shedding her innocence ––––– oh , her descent into monstrosity has been brewing for longer than she knows . ‘ i will hurt . i will kill . i will do whatever it takes to keep myself alive , nero , even if i have to do it all with my bare hands . my desire to live will take me as far as i have to go to survive . ’
OLD GODS SLUMBER WHILE YOUNG HANDS GRASP VIALS of nectar greedily . she hoards it while blood continues to drip from her lips , facing her elders with stone features - she dares them to take this away from her . immortality met with sanctity , all it takes is a small push to send prometheus running toward mankind , juniper toward stealing the eternal flame . from the heavens she watches as an unwitting tribute lights a match that’ll earn her SMITE from the big man who watches over nero’s shoulder . quick to anger though he’s made his home on his throne , his fury is her entertainment & she’ll gladly watch as juniper is ripped apart in the arena . silence despite the chaos , her head bobs in a pleased nod - she wonders what the tribute’s blood will taste like . nero longs to be in the games alongside her , to promise an alliance & offer survival ; she wants to see the fear that juniper hides brought to light firsthand - through the screen isn’t enough . those driven exclusively by refusal to shake hands with death bring forth the best pleasure ; terror is sacrifice , it’s the sustenance needed to appease a young god .
manipulation runs rampant in nimble digits . she reaches for her fringe , fingers weaving through the cloth that hides pieces of a sacrifice - nero will have to live with hearing her screams second hand . ❝ then at least you’ll die HONORABLY . ❞ her fingers pull at a knot , a string of cloth following manicured nails like stripping muscle from bone . her tone changes ; cold , as glacial as arenas that have come before - juniper isn’t meant to walk out of this with any breath left in her lungs . there’s a wooden box somewhere in this tribute center with her name on it , it waits for her while it takes its last breaths before spending eternity six feet under . the sad truth , nero holds two powerful tributes in her palm , the twins from district one have godhood in their sights & though flushed with heat gifted from a titan , juniper still searches for life . it will NEVER be enough , she will never outsmart a quartet of hunters who seek the kill . ❝ what’s your favorite kind of flower ? or , your mom’s ? your dad’s ? i like you , little bell , i’d like to send gifts after you meet your end . ❞ cruel words from lips that promised friendship seconds ago , one end of the spectrum to the other - this is all a game , for both of them .
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𝐅𝐈𝐋𝐄𝐃 𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑 ─ splntered
he watches her from afar , immediate recognition from her games not long ago . she carries a demeanor that comes off as frightening , too comfortable for their current time and place . perhaps that was an act to blend into the capitol , or simply the truest form of her feelings about the games . still , he felt intimidated even as she offers kind words . maybe that was just bound to be his entire experience during these games , overcome with nerves . “ thanks , ” scout mutters , eyes lowering to examine his outfit once more . “ district eleven . supposed to represent the stuff we produce —— fruits and such . . . orchids , ” he trails off , a brow lifting at her words to follow . his head shakes almost immediately , although he couldn’t deny that one fleeting moment where he did find enjoyment . however brief it was . “ when you forget why you’re there for that one moment when you leave the tunnel , sure . i even waved at the crowds . then i remembered that in no time those same cheers will be put toward all of our deaths —— cheers for a slaughtering . i think the parade is more messed up than anything else . ‘suppose we all have our own views though . ” a pause follows , sighing silently while he studies her a few moments longer . “ you were the victor of the 72nd , right ? ”
FROM A POORER DISTRICT SHE EXPECTS LESS ; SOME more brooding , maybe even an insult or two thrown her way . she’s accepted her role as a beacon of darkness , what every tribute DESPISES when they cast eyes at the wealthy - because she’s spent her LIFE training for this , they’ve spent their lives PRAYING to avoid it . if it’s inevitable , isn’t it better to prepare ? the games are good , & they’re prominent & yearly whether people like it or not - who are they to fault her for coming with her blades sharpened ? but met with friendliness , a little intimidation , even nero finds it hard to find the hatred she so often searches for ; the blackened blood that hits her lithe frame like electricity , absent from the male . she pats the empty space next to her on the couch , leaned forward to grab an empty glass from the table in front of the windows . ❝ even if you think the outfit’s atrocious , the capitol loves it . that’s why you received so many cheers - but i’ll let you in on a little secret ; rarely do citizens cheer for DEATHS . they’re cheering because of the kill , not because someone died . the difference is small , but it’s there . learn to find it & life will be easier . ❞ she fills the glass with wine slowly , voice smooth while she hands him a glass . peace , mixed among deadlier underlying seeds sprout from her hands . ❝ nero waterway , district two - don’t tell anyone this but you might be the most promising tribute from the poorer districts this year . ❞
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𝐅𝐈𝐋𝐄𝐃 𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑 ─ ofvidias
“i can only hope that the capitol citizens have a sense of humor for the district ten kids,” vidia admitted, trying her best to stifle a small laugh at the mention of the designs in question. now, of course she had a strong respect for all of the stylists working in the games, and acknowledged the hard work that went into crafting each design. she knew first hand that while it wasn’t the most important job within the games, it certainly wasn’t easy. however, she had to wonder what went through some stylists’ heads when they were designing. every district had their specialty, sure, but did the designs have to be so on the nose? vidia had always preferred subtleties and incorporating specific colors in order to convey the message that she wanted to get across. to each their own, she supposed. “if not, they’ll have a lot to work on to distract from the outfits. we can only hope their stylists worked out something better for their interviews, for their own sake.” she paused, letting out a small sigh and giving a small smile as a quiet thanks for her kind words. “speaking of stylists, district two’s stylists really outdid themselves this year, as usual.”
HUES DRIFT , THEY FOLLOW ANOTHER’S EYE LINE TO A disaster of cow print & a lack of pants . if she were capable of PITY , it may fill her chest as she looks at the poor tributes dressed like household pets to an unfortunate slaughter . even the most brainwashed like her can recognize the atrocity , there’s something almost sick about dressing up the tributes as livestock ; an uneasy reminder to the capitol that these young adults are nothing but cows for them to turn a blind eye to . nero doesn’t feel any kind of discomfort from the outfit , but she’s no idiot when it comes to how the capitol will view it , how snow will reprimand a stylist for an unfortunate , accidental propaganda . ❝ let’s hope for their sake the interview outfits are better ; i can’t imagine president snow’s reaction if they mess that one up , too . ❞ her voice dips , quiet , the way that socialites gossip in the capitol . ❝ & are you kidding ? our stylists ALWAYS do well , as do you . one , two , & four get the best , after all . ❞
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𝐅𝐈𝐋𝐄𝐃 𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑 ─ alunsei
alunsei pulls her lips into a polite, tight smile. “you’re not my mentor, are you? who are you to tell me what it’s about for me?” she exerts effort into not spewing out her scathing thoughts about the victor. instead, she provides veiled contempt. “wouldn’t it be a bigger triumph for you anyway if i lost? or are you so blended with the capitol these days that your heart’s no longer with your district?”
HOW FOOLISHLY SWEET , INCREDIBLY NAIVE & ALMOST self centered . it isn’t advice given to help , nero wants one thing from the games - she craves a good show , nothing more , nothing less . ❝ & here i was thinking you were a SMART one . ❞ she hums , fingers running against lace sleeves , a huff of a laugh falls from her lips . ❝ do you think i’m trying to help you win ? be honest , alunsei . ❞
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love4eva LOONA/yyxy feat. grimes
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𝐅𝐈𝐋𝐄𝐃 𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑 ─ irrcvocable
𝖏𝖚𝖓𝖎𝖕𝖊𝖗 𝖉𝖆𝖑𝖙𝖔𝖓 , 𝖈𝖑𝖊𝖛𝖊𝖗 𝖌𝖎𝖗𝖑 , 𝖍𝖊𝖗 eyes cling onto subtle movements and find hidden meaning . a ridiculous outfit may be enough to draw attention from capitolites whose eyes flicker to the shiniest and most outlandish , but she is not enough for a predator like nero . one whose eyes flit away from a girl who still stands upon trembling legs , one whose presence flickers like a broken lightbulb in a dim room . not enough . not when a girl who is being reborn as beast is still in the beginnings of her own metamorphosis . it isn’t enough to a predator with fangs still bloody , cerberus guards the entrance to a hell perceived as glorious and deems juniper unworthy . does she fight to let nero’s spotlight illuminate her , call herself predator even when her nails are far from nero’s talons and teeth nothing like her sharp canines ? or is there relief in the knowledge that there is not yet enough evil within her for nero to see her and deem her worthy of the throne she has sat upon ?
𝖉𝖎𝖘𝖆𝖕𝖕𝖗𝖔𝖛𝖆𝖑 𝖎𝖓 𝖍𝖚𝖒 𝖆𝖓𝖉 𝖌𝖑𝖆𝖗𝖊 , there is no masking the way juniper’s entire body tenses at a look that makes her stomach sink . is her humanity worth this tortuous look ? she is torn ––––– yet every fiber of her being pleads for survival , and the question has been answered moments after it has been posed . if the other wants to see strength , juniper will try to play the part . anything when disapproval means danger . shoulders are squared and juniper clears her throat when nero’s gaze floats away for the last time , calling for the other’s attention even when she knows herself undeserving . the other’s words make juniper want to shiver . they are a warning more than they are a piece of advice , they are a death sentence from the predator that sees easy prey . enemies , nero calls them . in juniper’s eyes , they have already gone from peers to obstacles . it is still not enough to thirst for the blood to be spilled , it is the end of a shift she still finds herself going through . there is still a lamb within her , weakened by her own fear . ‘ perhaps , ’ juniper concedes . ‘ but it’s true . ’ there is sincerity in the admission ––––– juniper understands that her origins are not advantageous beyond physical strength and proficiency with a single weapon . it is nothing compared to the rigorous training that some of the others have been subjected to , evidenced in the muscles beneath their skin , the danger they ––––– like nero ––––– wear as a constant threat . maybe they are at an advantage , but none of them know how much fear fuels juniper’s every move . ‘ i’m not an idiot ––––– i won’t argue with you . but i do think you underestimate how badly i want to survive . it drives me more than any victory could ––––– it’s more than just false hope . ’
trigger warning : blood & gore tw
SURVIVABILITY OR GLORY ? WHICH OUTWEIGHS THE OTHER , which carries more drive than the other ? for nero , it’s the answer of the gory gold , the splatters of red against platinum stars that hang in front of her eyes like the fringe of GODHOOD ; she had clawed her nails off to grasp the divinity that now dances on her skin . the arena’s siren call , it sings a song for those who chase the path to pearly gates – the people with wings hidden underneath cracked shoulder blades & hide ichor in the maroon that flow underneath their skin . where the longing for survival has always been selfless , the yearning for the laurels have always been SELFISH . a district partner kicked off of a cliff , a supposed ally stabbed in the back after a poisonous kiss , an innocent life taken by the waters that are meant to cleanse dirty skin – egocentric , she had picked off human lives as if they were chess pawns ; earned her sanctity by looking at herself as something MORE than human . ❝ so , how FAR are you willing to go ? ❞ she questions , devil raises an eyebrow as she looks upon an innocent soul – oh , the ways she can torture purity . ❝ you want to survive so badly ? how many TONGUES will you cut for your life ? are you willing to GUT your best friends so you can go home to your family while their families grieve ? will you drink their blood from every goblet you pick up for the rest of your life you fought so hard to keep ? ❞
she can go on , ask juniper if she’s willing to transform from girl to wolf to live . nero wants to see the discomfort , goddess longs for a sacrifice as she plants images of gore inside of a mind that looks like it’s already seen too much . ❝ because i do . i DID , i killed so i could walk out & look families in the eyes & remind them that i WON at the price of their loved one’s lives . ❞ lips spread wide , a cruel laugh falls from her lips as an image of softness falls from a girl that’s always been a blade . a masterpiece drawn by the most bent mind , she’s made of sharp lines & bloody eyes – blown pupils & broken veins underneath ceramic skin – she’s not goddess , she’s not empress , she’s not GIRL , she’s wrongness trapped in a form beneath her & she intends to make juniper’s skin crawl . a game to play with her newest little doll , raggedy ann in human form for her to manipulate & mold . ❝ THAT’S victory , little bell – the desire to KILL & the desire to HURT . how far will your desire to live take you ? ❞
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𝐅𝐈𝐋𝐄𝐃 𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑 ─ gclddvst
he forgets , for a moment , that in nero’s eyes they are not equals , that to her he is someone worth praising , not some fool in over his head in a game of chess he never wanted to be a part of . “ that’s all well and good , until i go down in history as the first victor to die tragically at the hands of their stylists , ” he jokes , tugging at the neckline of his shirt as if to stretch it . “ i think i’d rather be criticised publicly for my poor fashion choices . ”
asher almost laughs at nero’s casual ‘ i still pushed him off of a cliff ’ . almost . because it is about someone that he knew , that he helped to mentor , and that he had to watch die . “ i was pretty much chanting ‘ don’t kill her , let her take out everyone else first ’ to myself for the first few days in the arena , and i ended up dropping a tonne of rocks on her head . ” it’s not completely a lie — he was extraordinarily tempted to axe her in the head every time she badmouthed him to the other career tributes , but he never would have acted on that temptation .
“ ah , juniper , she’s an interesting one . i think if she was raised in district two , she’d be downright terrifying , ” asher muses . “ but yeah , our kids certainly seem to be the most likely to win at the moment . ” although he can’t help but wonder if they’re really as strong as they seem .
THERE’S A CHILDISH GLINT IN HER EYES , IT ALMOST masks the horrors that run rampant in her mind – reliving her kills , remembering the games she’s seen & witnessed with her own eyes . every word that leaves his lips are words from a victor , someone who’s spilt blood & lived to take the crown with raw fingers . ❝ please , as if anyone could criticize you for anything . ❞ a crowd favorite , people know of asher lau & his mastermind ability .
his games in particular , not even hers held a candle to them . both entertaining & ruthless , she remembers the chatter around the academy the days his games were going on ; remembers trainees around her bragging about how they knew asher , how their families were friends with his family . what a small dream , she had thought – she had told everyone that she’d be his friend some day ; here she sits , while old classmates sign contracts to keep peace . ❝ & that was the most memorable way to rid yourself of a pest . ❞
juniper , juniper – a worthy ( ish ) tribute if she pushes back her childish anger & runs towards victory . ❝ she can be so much more if she wasn’t so intent on proving she ISN’T scared . if someone had taught her to swallow that terror , she could take the games easily . ❞ a smirk writes itself on her lips . ❝ but we’ve got grier gunn & theo kwon . the capitol’s already falling over them – victor’s daughter & her incredibly handsome partner . ❞
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𝐅𝐈𝐋𝐄𝐃 𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑 ─ irrcvocable
𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖍𝖔𝖑𝖉 𝖔𝖓 𝖍𝖊𝖗 𝖆𝖗𝖒 leaves , though nero’s ghost remains in the form of all –– consuming uncertainty . there is something about the other that inspires fear within her . a darkness that surrounds nero like a shadow , hovering around her frame like a disciple praising its deity and their every move . call it cruelty , call it death ––––– nero smiles and juniper can only see a threatening entity that she does not dare to trust , even for a moment . not when she has learned that evil lurks in every shadow of the world and that softness is worth nothing when death is abrupt , not when she has been searching for signs of her own undoing for years and finding them in anything that was ever off . all omens of tragedy that has been chasing her ever since a gentle girl was introduced to death . it came out of nowhere , yet juniper’s fate feels written in stone . still , she rebels against merciless deities that seek to doom her ––––– still , she will claw and fight against what is not yet reality until there is nothing but a husk of a girl left , dominated by primal instinct alone as fear becomes bloodlust .
𝖜𝖍𝖆𝖙𝖊𝖛𝖊𝖗 𝖎𝖙 𝖙𝖆𝖐𝖊𝖘 𝖙𝖔 𝖘𝖚𝖗𝖛𝖎𝖛𝖊 , be it chaos or standing tall in the face of a killer and steeling herself to withstand words that carry deeper meaning . ‘ i hope you’re right . i could use them. ’ humility suits her better than baseless arrogance , though the words still conceal the distrust beneath . juniper doubts that anyone is cheering her name for a reflex that has already spanned too many negative consequences . courage among the districts , insurrection in the capitol . ’ oh , i may not have been dealt the best cards , but i intend to use them well . ’ there is falsity concealed somewhere beneath a small smile . nero does not have to know how far juniper can be pushed by her own fear .
SHE WEARS IT WELL , OBSERVATION MADE FROM GREY hues so startling they’re unnatural . predator recognizes prey – poor juniper dalton , cowbell around her neck like she’s a pet but despite the horridness that wraps around a muscular frame , juniper doesn’t resemble any livestock ; she’s remnants of a sheep . gentleness wrapped in a kind layer of wool , doesn’t she know that wolves eat meat ? she says she intends to use her cards to her advantage & to an untrained eye , she oozes determination to come out alive , but all nero can hear is false promises being uttered by blasphemous lips . the games are so much more than survival , to claw their way out of a never ending tunnel they have to want to WIN . brutality has to come from clawed nails , savagery has to scratch their throats raw – the games call for a winner & she has to EARN IT . nero has no doubt when push comes to shove juniper will do what needs to be done , but she wishes she could TEACH the woman that ferocity is much more valuable than hoping that the cards she’s been dealt will be enough . they almost never are .
she shows her disappointment , a low hum as tributes start to flood the center in pretentious outfits & frantic stylists . chariots line up , majestic steeds eager to perform their duties & retire for the night ; nero’s attention starts to waver in the chaos . ❝ what a DISPIRITING thing to say . ❞ she hums in displeasure , turning away from the tribute just slightly . strings pulled as she starts to get distracted by another shiny outfit – someone who might be smart enough to TAKE the cards they need instead of praying the ones they have will be enough . ❝ hasn’t anyone taught you that false hope is more dangerous than hubris ? or the arrogance i’m sure you think the gifted tributes wear . ❞ hands move to wring together before she shoots a brief glare at juniper – quickly dissolved into a friendly face – she’s a friend to the tributes . ❝ whatever cards you think you have , your enemies have more – you think you want survival ? they want VICTORY , which do you think drives a tribute more ? ❞
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𝐅𝐈𝐋𝐄𝐃 𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑 ─ diistrict7
𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐕𝐎𝐂𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐖𝐀𝐒 𝐀𝐍 𝐀𝐑𝐓 , at least to the conley girl . having grown up with no siblings and barely any parental influence , krista mastered the art of annoyance . it’s a trade really , you have to pick the perfect person , think of the perfect plan . and ta - fucking - da , you’ve got yourself a reaction . endless days of district seven’s suffocating summers , left a girl lonely and bored . and she was always curious at other’s people wrath . it was such a strange emotion , so uncontrollable and unpredictable . noting like love , or sadness . anger was something different . and it was different enough to pique her interest . and since her days were limited ( big shoutout to coriolanus snow and his cowardice nature ) , she would love to spend in delivering her art . and that is her annoyance of course – petulance , is a slightly prettier word . but it’s all the same . and the people here – they deserve it the most . so as a little act of REVENGE from her future grave , she was going to make them suffer . nothing major of course , but just a little bit . but she had failed to plan what she would do had they fought back – had they provoked her back . so , in shock and surprise , she stumbled back into the shelves of the broom closet but managed to tumble out a scoff and splatter on a smirk . ❛ it’s such a PITY . ❜ she mused aloud , eyes squinting the slightest as she tried to analyse the other . ❛ you used to have a soul . now you’re nothing . just flesh and bones , a capitol’s puppet ? their little doll ? don’t you hate what they did to you ? ❜ there’s true sympathy in her voice and it swirled around in her eyes but the slight detestation , the slight hostility that craved for provocation , it was all there , right at the edge of her voice .
ANGER IS BRIEF , HELD & DROPPED BY HANDS BUSY grasping onto something else entirely . irritation replaces red hot indignation , & a brief fantasy plays out in the victor’s head – that she’s in the games again going up against HER . a pest of a tribute from a district that isn’t worth anything , complacent logs that wield axes & think their tree climbing skills are enough to bring people like her down ; she can imagine a thousand ways to kill the tribute right now , every different arena , every different weapon ( but , does she even really need a weapon ? all nero really needs is a body of water ) at her disposal . she chooses not to mirror krista’s smirk , opting to remain stoic as she holds the door open , gesturing as an usher would for her to exit the sad excuse of a broom closet . as light filters into the dimness , a laugh falls from blood stained lips – it lacks the delightful emotion that usually comes with the act , it’s eerily empty ; the furies in response to the cries of the suffering , a demon in the middle of a fire she started .
❝ that’s so cute , you think i used to have a soul when i’ve never had one . ❞ lips fall , in the odd lighting shadows cross her face like predator hunting its prey in the cold forests . in the darkness , canines are sharpened & stark white while the light illuminates soft features ruminating with chaos . innocence & sin mixed together in a clash of masterpieces . ❝ don’t pity me – i’m the only victor you’ll meet who can live up to her kills . thirteen of them , i can still remember their cries & the taste of blood from the tributes who spoke just like you – i killed the boy from YOUR district with his own axe , maybe you remember . ❞ what did the capitol do to her but hand her her greatest victory ? ❝ i’m no puppet , i’m a victor & i don’t see that title ever falling upon you . ❞
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𝐅𝐈𝐋𝐄𝐃 𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑 ─ ofvidias
“i felt compelled to do something spectacular for this year’s games,” vidia spoke simply, giving one more glance over of her creations before sending them on their way and turning her attention fully to the victor in front of her. she was known to put her entire heart and soul into everything that she designed, and this year was no different. in fact, it as almost more important to her than ever to make something that left an impact. she knew it wouldn’t be what was remembered the most about the games, but it didn’t hurt to put in an effort regardless. “please, if there’s one thing ceasar flickerman loves, it’s an exciting outfit. in all my years of styling, i’ve never heard one negative word leave that man’s mouth when it comes to what the tributes are wearing.” she could probably put a literal potato sack over her tributes and cinch them in the most flattering ways and the capitol’s games host would still express his excitement through a boisterous laugh. “stylist of the year, that’d be a dream, wouldn’t it? i don’t know, it feels odd to be rewarded for this in the grand scheme of it all. like these outfits are masking something much bigger.”
STYLISTS – BACKBONES OF THE GAMES , RESPONSIBLE FOR bringing even the most disgruntled tributes & thrusting into the spotlight . what the more unfortunate don’t understand – winning the capitol’s heart is half the game ; if the extravagantly dressed citizens don’t love the tribute it doesn’t matter how much they survived – happiness will NEVER be within reach . where they turn their noses up at districts one , two & four , they’ll never quite get that winning hearts is the KEY to survival . once snow loves a tribute , once the capitol realizes they don’t want to lose a tribute , they’re set for victory . who cares if it’s uncomfortable , or if their words aren’t their own ? everyone has a role they’re meant to play in order to make sure the games run smoothly . ❝ it’s because he’s got nothing bad to say about it . i can’t name a single stylist that’s deliberately tried to sabotage their tributes – except maybe district ten this year . poor kids have COWBELLS on , like they’re cattle . ❞ grey hues roll & she shrugs . ❝ besides , awards are earned . you’re not masking anything , you’re the support for the soldiers marching to war – don’t undersell yourself , vidia . ❞
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