arcade.

BRUSHING   UP   ON   BASIC  blurs   of   the   victors   and   upcoming   tributes   would   benefit   both   her   and   those   she   would   be   representing   in   the   games   .   offering   them   any   kind   of   aid   would   be   something   the   stylist   found   herself  starving   for   .   and   that   would   pay   off   at   this   time   ,   too   ,   in   that   moment   she   would   read   the   situation   to   a   tee   and   offer   a   small   dose   of   sympathy   .   just   enough   ,   for   you   wouldn’t   want   them   to   feel   like   a   mere   charity   case  .      ❝      not   in   particular   ,   really   ——   just   trying   to   hunt   down   two   tributes   that   don’t   know   what   ‘wait   here’   means   .   no   need   to   apologize   ,   anyway   ,   ‘sure   you   have   too   much   on   your   plate   with   mentoring   and   all   .     ❞

“that’s why we go somewhere that cameras can’t find us. it’s like a fun game, see how long we can go without ceasar and the rest of the media catching up to us,” she laughed, truly only half kidding. with so much of their engagement at the front of news headlines in the capitol (when the games weren’t happening, anyways), it would be nice for the two of them to have time alone without the watchful eyes of the capitol. she allowed herself to sit up slightly, giving him a sad smile in response. it was hard hearing of his sister being chosen for the games, knowing that they would have to watch her go through what he did years ago. she already had a habit of getting attached to tributes in past years, so having it be someone she knew personally would prove even more difficult. “it’s probably a good idea for me to start getting ready,” she chuckled, knowing full well how long it usually took for her. “how are you feeling, with everything going on?

“and take the attention away from the capitol’s sick fantasies? how could we ever?” vidia spoke, upping the dramatics as she tried to keep in a laugh. she leaned in to meet him halfway for the kiss, the content smile still resting comfortably on her lips before she pulled back, resting her head into the crook of his neck for a moment. “i’m sure ceasar would love it, though. he seems more excited about this wedding than anyone else, if that’s even possible.” in the years since they began dating, their romance had been once that the capitol loved to pay attention to and pry into, moreso even since the engagement. “maybe if we just stay here, we can just pretend today’s not happening. i’m not ready to face it yet.”

           BILE   FORMED   IN   THE   BACK   OF   HER   THROAT   at   the   notion   of   yet   another   Games.   The   fanfare   would   be   magnificent,   yes,   but   the   victor   preferred   the   stillness   of   her   home   in   the   Victor’s   Village.   She   sauntered   along   the   Capitol’s   path   with   pursed   lips   and   swaying   hips,   looking   for   a   safe   haven   on   an   island   surrounded   by   piranhas.   The   red   sea   of   sponsors   and   Capitol   citizens   parted,   as   she   swaggered   toward   the   private   area   designated   as   the   holding   space   for   tributes   prior   to   their   interviews.   With   batted   eyes   lingering   on   an   assembly   of   sponsors   with   generous   pockets,   the   young   woman   arrived   at   the   private   area   only   to   see   a   familiar   face   blocking   the   entrance.   Bile   threatened   to   erupt   from   her   lips   once   more   at   the   sight,   but   Mia   pushed   it   down   with   the   upmost   care.   ❛   Excuse   me.   ❜   Her   voice   carried   a   polite   edge   she   reserved   for   colleagues.   Her   sculptured   brow   arched,   as   Ambruze   remained   unresponsive   to   her   request.   ❛   Yes,   I   was,   Ambruze.   You’re   gawking   like   an   Avox   AND   blocking   the   entrance.   ❜

Ambruze was propelled back to reality. What a strange one it was. A woman he once tried to show the deepest recesses of his heart was here today, with no indication that she would even know why he was acting so despondent. He repaid her thinly concealed impatience in kind. Sardonically, he told her, “Pardon me. I must have been distracted by your beautiful smile.” He wanted to ask her if she was doing okay, but that was no longer something they did. Whatever solicitude or care remained for each other was beneath a flurry of sarcastic smiles and negative friction.

vidia could feel herself physically relax at his touch. it was a good thing that came out of this time of year, in a way, because they had time together that wasn’t always guaranteed in between games. sure, they found plenty of times to visit each other and keep things consistent within their relationship (they’d figured out a good system over the years), but having a few weeks at a time to get to be together was unmatched. It was helpful for both of them, too, having the other to lean on when the games became harder to stomach as it progressed. “before you know it, this will be a regular thing. you won’t be able to get rid of me after the wedding,” she teased, a grin plastered against her features. “you’re stuck with me after that.”

“well aren’t you a sight to see first thing in the morning,” vidia grinned towards him as she sat up in the bed. “and you’re up early too.”  of course she knew why, the same thing had kept her up the night before. she always had these dreams right before the new games began, usually involving the images of the tributes they had lost in years prior, the ones that she saw as her own family by the time they were sent off to fight. the previous night’s dreams seemed to hit her harder this time, as they had woken her up with tears more than once that night. she was just hoping ambruze hadn’t heard it. “yeah– i mean, i’m trying. rough night,” she shrugged, putting a half smile on her face. he had so much to worry about, he didn’t need to worry about her too. “whatever you’re having is fine by me.”

🌧 for a heavy, emotional secret.

since the 63rd hunger games, ambruze has been terrified of the ocean. although his hometown occupies a special place in his heart, he’d avoid visiting the fishery district for years, due to memories of his games’ deadly synthetic seas. he could not bear to look at bodies of water, until he developed feelings for vidia.

[ TARON EGERTON, MALE, HE/HIM. ]    introducing ambruze zale, VICTOR of the 63rd year hunger games, representing district 4. my sources say that he is thirty years old, & that they’re pretty handy with discerning the potentially deadliest parts of his surroundings. wonder if that did him any good in the arena ? anyways, caesar says you can’t miss them, because he reminds everyone of a honey-sweet tenor voice crooning a love song, coils of smoke and steam, emerald eyes winking at the camera, the slightest twitch in an otherwise flawless smile after downing a few bottles of liquor.

what’s up!!! i’m thia, 19. I can’t wait to write with all of you. here’s my second intro. i hope y’all give bruzey here some plots, as well as my other muses @alunsei and @sylvener.