amcranthine
clara was in the training room , practicing with a blade . before the end of the last hunger games , they already had the tributes that were going to volunteer . but with victoria & quentin’s stunt & the increase in number of tributes , they had to result to pulling names , hence why clara was in this position . people had applauded her as her name was called , the living legacy of finnick & annie odair . the knot had forming itself in that moment & hadn’t unraveled since . she stopped after awhile , chest rising & falling heavily , looking over to see someone. “ care to spar ? ” she teased, running her finger along the blade . she had to act tough , she was a career . no one could know how truly she was not ready for this .
often times, acacius found himself in the training room. he’d be observing, engaging in small talk while the kids below him did ... whatever the hell they did to prepare themselves for what was ahead. acacius wasn’t even sure if he was allowed on the floor, but he found himself there anyway. must’ve taken the wrong turn. the facility was a goddamn maze. he stopped dead in his tracks when the young woman spoke. “oh, goodness, no ! do i look --- nevermind. you career tributes never cease to amaze me.” he put a hand to his chest, clutching an imaginary string of pearls, if you will. on his opposite arm draped different strips of fabric; tartan, silk, worsted --- even if one weren’t to recognize his face, they’d know exactly what he was there to do. “you look like you’ve got ... all of that that covered yourself. you’re odair’s child, aren’t you ?? absolutely incredible.”
