Forum Thread

Agria sighed. She wasn't sure if she really wanted to open up, but Lillith's unnerving stare caused her to cave. Fingers moving fast, she signed out the terrible tale.

My parents died when I was very young. I don't remember why, or when, but they did. I lived in the wreckage of our old home until a man found me. I still don't know who he was. He dragged me to an orphanage run by...a woman called Auntie who raised me until now. She's not a good person. She hits, and yells, and throws you in the cellar if you're bad. Even the mayor is scared of her. But...I was the real caretaker. I took care of the other children, comforted them when Auntie hit them, encouraged them, did what I could. Now I can't protect them...

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Lilith tilts her head, mouth open in a perfect O. “I see. Poor you. Why didn’t you kill the woman?” She asks, eyes lighting up. “Your problems would be solved!” She takes Natalia back, placing her on her lap. She hands a bunch of tea cakes over. “Eat up.” She stated pointedly.

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Aether silently walked back to her room, quite tired from the parade and the clothes irritating her. She was furiously trying to wipe her makeup off and get her blistered feet out of her shoes, and managed to successfully do a good amount of it, before she started to hear voices in the hallway. Oh no. Someone was out, and they might run into her. She stayed still for a moment, waiting and listening for where the sound would go next. She heard it fading away, so she continued walking and ended up catching a glimpse of a duo walking into a room together. She followed after the door had closed and tried her best not to make a sound as she got closer and stopped right outside. She could hear them from outside, just like she wanted, and she stayed there for a while eavesdropping on their conversation. She stood there like a tree, her hands in the pockets of her jacket and her head lowered to blankly stare at the floor below her.

After a while, she got quite board and decided it was best to just go back to her room and rest. She didn't want to deal with this anymore, she just wanted to escape. She wanted her worries to be gone, her thoughts to be silenced, and her body to stop folding under the pain and fatigue. She gave a sigh as she reached her room and slowly opened the door, stepping in and quietly closing it. She immediately began taking off her clothes and changing into the most comfortable looking ones the Capital offered. She continued moving around, doing random things like rearranging, cleaning, and really just walking back and forth. She just wanted a distraction, something to keep her mind from thinking while she just tried to stay sane. But, alas, she already knew it was going to fail. As she thought, her attempts failed and she was left on the floor, in a ball, tears pouring from her eyes and her body shaking. "Get out of my head... Get out of my head..." Those 5 words were repeated many times, some were louder and more violent than most and some were drowned out by her sobs.

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Agria jumped, and quickly signed out, No, No! I- She hesitated. Wasn't that the whole point of this? Killing people? Agria paled, and slumped a little in defeat. She hadn't let that thought enter her mind in awhile..She half-heartedly picked up a tea cake and ate it, then signed, Someone will come looking for me, I don't want to get you in trouble

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“I won’t get into trouble. And neither will you. After all, who could resist a sweet little doll girl? She hops off the bed as if to demonstrate, showing Agira cute puppy eyes and a very sad pout, as she rocked gently from side to side, holding Natalia in her arms. She looked like one of those small children asking for lollipops. Except this time, apart from the cuteness, there was this sinister look in her eyes, promising death to anyone who denied her request. She holds the pose for a while longer before breaking it, surveying Agira closely. “You’re getting as pale as me, that’s not good. Have some chocolate.” She breaks a piece and hands it over.

---

Agria managed to smile at Lillith. Even if she was a little unnerving, she seemed like a genuienly nice person, if you weren't getting on her badside. Maybe she would make a good alliance? Agria pushed the thoughts of what would come after that alliance had sucssessfully got her somewhere. She couldn't think about that now, or she would surely break down. She took the chocolate, and it certainlly helped some. So, she was feeling brave enough to sign out, What is your story?

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“I grew up at an orphanage just like you. Except our caretaker had died a while back. She was nice, really nice to all of us. The older kids helped to take care of us, after her death. We would visit her grave often. Then one day we were attacked by god-knows-who. Several of my friends were heavily injured. One of them- Alice…she…she died from a stab wound. I swore that I would learn how to fight, to protect what remaining family I had left. And so I did. I killed everyone who attacked them. My sweetness is nothing but poison to some. And because of that traumatic incident, I developed a split personality. One side of me truly wishes to help others, the side I’ve always had. And this other side of me……..which went down the path of darkness. She’s full of bloodlust, evil and she will stop at nothing to kill everyone on this earth. She may have started off with good intentions but….” Lilith pauses and sighs. “Don’t tell anyone will you? She hasn’t taken over yet, so no one’s seen that side of her. But I can feel her straining for control…..” As she tells her story, a flicker of the other ‘girl’ she mentioned appears. This girl’s eyes are cold, and her fingers seem to drip with blood. Her teeth are jagged, and her fingernails seem to sharpen. It was Lilith, but then again it definitely wasn’t her. Lilith shakes a few times, scratching harshly at her skin, causing red lines to appear. She lets out a scream, before all traces of the other girl disappears, and it’s just Lilith. “That was her, her name was Melissa. I’m sorry you had to see her.” Lilith pauses for a while, placing Natalia on the bed, then pacing about. “My hatred for the capitol is as such: i have a very strong gut feeling that the people that attacked my orphanage were capitol supporters”

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Agria clapped a hand over her mouth in shock as she listened to the gristly tale. She had no idea that something like that could even happen, but then again, she never did know anything about what went on in the other districts. Was something like this really that common? When Melissa "apeared," Agria scooted away some, but managed to control herself. She watched Lillith pace, then signed out, I'm sorry. You didn't deserve that. She was hesitant before adding, I'm sure you'll be able to get your revenge soon enough She wasn't quite sure what else to say...

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“Thank you for your concern. And don’t worry, I will. The Hunger Games is the perfect way to carry out my plan.” She swings the ‘toy’ axe from her back onto the wooden dresser, causing it to splinter into pieces. “Thought it was a toy? I’d hope to give the Capitol that expression. Oh I can’t wait for the interviews!” She claps her hands daintily, eyes sparkling with excitement. “Talking of weapons though…do you have any?”

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This girl was really, really unnerving Agria, but Agria had seen lots of children come into the orphanage. She'd seen them lash out with horrible anger issues, drive themselves crazy, she could handle Lillith. She would be fine...Right? She suddenly realized that Lillith had asked her a question. She didn't have any weapons. Agria had never even hit anyone, let alone used a weapon. Even the idea of using one was a forgien concept. Agria was honestly begggening to belive she stood no chance, and that she'd never be able to keep her promise. The light in her eyes went out at this, and she half-heartedly signed, No, no weapons. That's when she remembered her work at the dock, and hurriedly added, But I know how to use a trident. That's when there was a knock at the door. "Agria? What room is this, I know you're in here. You really need to go back to your room, the Peackeepers are going to have both our heads," Xena said.

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*Grimm went into the training area and began to practice her bandage tying methods and she began to study her recipes for her various medicines, like it would help, they were already ingrained in her mind. She knew she would have to eventually die. She wouldn’t fight it. She had to keep her oath to the end. She didn’t want to bring any suffering to the world that her existence hadn’t already caused to her parents. That was the whole reason she was orphaned right?*

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Lilith looks curious. “Oh? But I can use many weapons, just no long ranged ones. I’m very good with an axe.” She pauses upon hearing the knock on the door. She opens the door, looks sweetly at Xena and tilts her head. “Hiiiiiiii~ this is my room. Agira is here. But how did you know. Who are you? Can you fight? How do you know Agira?” She is still holding Natalia, and she holds it up for Xena to see

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Xena sighed. "You must be Lillith. I've heard about you. And for your information, I'm Agria's mentor, Xena. I'm also blind, but that doesn't mean I couldn't fight you. Now if you'll please let Agria leave, she really needs to-" Agria hurried over, signing out to Lillith, Thank you, but I should go. Xena's obviously been worried.

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Lilith’s mouth formed a small “o”. Her eyes were sparkling as she tried to understand Agira. She claps happily, finally understanding, before gently pushing Agira out of the door, and waving goodbye happily. Her eyes are smiling, but her lips are frozen into a thin line, seemingly unhappy, yet she bears every other sign of happiness. She silently holds up Natalia, and Natalia waves her hand, without Lilith moving it

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Agria waved hesitanetly, before turning to Xena. Xena put an arm around her shoulders and began guiding her back to her room, using the walls as a guide. "It seems you're making friends." Agria drummed her nails against the wall to respond. "I know you were just talking, but the Peackeepers don't see it that way. Wait until training, then we'll focus on alliances." At Agria's door, she said, "Go inside. I need to talk to your District Partner."

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Kendo huffed, as he wiped beads of sweat off his forehead. He had woken up early from the too-soft bed, at the chirping of the birds and at the dawning of the sun. The events of the past day started to sink in, so he started his exercise routine to take his mind off things.

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Xena found him as he was excersising. "I can tell from the sounds that you're getting an early start, huh?" The woman took a semiformal stance, as if it were ingrained in her. "I wanted to talk to you as it seems that we haven't had a proper conversation, especially about what I'll need to know for the Games. Do you think you can handle that?" she said, adding a bit of sarcasam to the last part.

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"Ah! Xena! Good morning!" He Grinned. "Was that last part supposed to be sarcastic or...?" Kendo grabbed the bottle of water by the bed, and took a sip. "Anyways, I can answer your questions. What do you need me to answer?"

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Xena smiled. "That's for me to know and you to find out. But I came here because training is going to start soon, and I need to know what I can so that I'm aware of how I can help you. So I have one question. What is your greatest weakness?" She crossed her arms, waiting.

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District 7 Dining Hall

"Well?" Riggs' arms were crossed. The victor's stares unnerved him, but he didn't dare give them that opening. "Spill. Why'd you bring me here?"

Dawna finally tore her eyes free from him. Small mercies. "Well, Ash?" she asked in her low rumble. "He's asking."

"Neither of us are rooting for you," Ash said blankly.

Well. Ouch.

"Any particular reason why?" The corners of his mouth were twitching in a smile he prayed wasn't murderous.

"She'd be more useful alive." The two of them stared coolly at each other. Then Riggs scoffed.

"Pft. Is that all you wanted to tell me?"

"It is." Ash nodded.

"Great. Thanks a lot for nothing." Riggs threw back his head with a derisive laugh, turning away from the two. "I'll be in my room."

Riggs swept out the room- but paused, just as he started down the hall. They were still talking.

why didn't... tell... who... resistance...

Resistance?

Riggs was instantly on alert.

What were they talking about? What resistance? One against the Capitol?

And then a girl crashed into him.

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Majoree Sinclair (DISTRICT 9)

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Majoree flushed instantly, sputtering incoherently. "You- You stupid-" As she listened to his laughter, her face soured. "Stop teasing me! It's not nice!"

But as he spoke, the words echoed in her brain.

A team?

Oh. A team.

How stupid.

She bit her tongue, flexing her fingers. She didn't know what was going through his head, but... That was really, not smart at all. What did he expect if they went in like that? That everything'd work out? They'd protect each other and escape a death match? Both of them? In a game designed to rig them against one other? Without a specific goal in mind, then people would shatter under those circumstances.

Majoree knew that better than anyone.

"Fine. A team." Marj. "Rai."

She didn't tell him she was lying.

This was what was best for everyone.

Majoree included.

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