𝒐𝒄𝒆𝒂𝒏 𝒄𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒅

"Ok shoot, Loch. What are your questions? And trust me none of them are going to sound dumb, and I promise unless you start telling jokes I won't laugh at you." Patting the couch seat next to him, "Come here, make yourself comfortable, we can be friends, no reason to have any odd formalities between us."

perhaps it was selfish, but every time he felt the train hum to life beneath him, heard the whistle signaling its imminent departure from district four’s station, the first emotion crest felt was relief. relief that the reaping was over, relief to be on his way back to the capitol, and - most of all - relief that none of his siblings were leaving with him. mingyan had come of reaping age the year after his games, and he’d spent every summer since dreading that day, nearly sick with fear of hearing the sound of his brothers or sisters’ names in an escort’s mouth. but this year’s reaping had come and gone again, with only the two poor souls aboard this wagon as casualties.

this part never got easier with time. as usual, he chose the easy way out, leaving the team’s escort to brief their tributes and give them a rundown on the next few days. only when the train was well on its way, having chugged along for over an hour now, did crest emerge stumbling from his cabin and make his way to the restaurant wagon. the girl - aphrodite, was it ? her name had stuck with him, like a familiar echo - was nowhere to be seen, but she wasn’t the one he was looking for. oh, the two of them would sit down and have a chat sooner rather than later, he was sure. but here and now, the one he was after was…

❛ hey there. ❜ snatching two glasses up from the minibar, he slid onto the bench seat opposite loch’s before leaning back, attempting to catch the boy’s gaze. ❛ remember me ? i wouldn’t be surprised if you didn’t, really. it’s been a while. ❜ pretty dire circumstances to meet again in, he might have said, but that part didn’t really need to be stated. 

after dinner, everyone had gone their separate ways with loch making his way to one of the many couches lining the windows of the train. he had hoped to enjoy the scenery, figuring he might not have another chance. but that realization brought the reality of his entire situation crashing down on his shoulders. and now too preoccupied with his thoughts, he stared blindly out the window.

at first he didn't even realize crest had entered the car, in fact, it wasn't until the older male sat down that he was able to tear his gaze away from the window. but even then, he struggled to meet the other's eyes, instead allowing his eyes to settle on the drink he was handed. he didn't dare drink, it was taking a considerable amount of concentration not to spill it all over himself.

Desdemona loved parties at President Copperhead's mansion, and he was so gracious to host several events each year. Of course, she looked forward most to the winter banquet-- but the welcome ball for the tributes was a close second. The energy in the Capitol was palpable, teeming with anticipation for the event of the year. This year, her first year with tributes to style and a real stake in it all-- it was all intoxicating, overwhelming.

Swirling through the crowd with a drink in hand, Desdemona scanned the faces for her tributes. She smiled at some dear friends, clinked her glass in cheers for the occasion and-- finally. Des locked eyes with Loch and crossed the courtyard, plucking a drink off of a table on her way. She placed the full glass in Loch's hand, a soothing smile on her lips as he took his face by the chin and tilted it left then right. Admiring her handiwork.

"Gorgeous as always. How are you finding everything?" Des asked, releasing him and settling next to Loch to admire the partygoers. "I imagine it can be a bit much for the senses-- have you gotten quite enough to eat?"

the presidential gala was hardly the first social event loch had attended in his life - after all he was a dreadnought. and a last name like that came with an invitation to every major event in the district. but all of those events paled in comparison to the ambiance of the capitol.

he was a fish out of water in the one place he had hoped to fit in. at least his hair allowed him to blend in to the crowd, if only momentarily. his nervousness, definitely wasn't helping that. nor was his need to compulsively tug at his collar.

needless to say, he was incredibly relieved to cross paths with desdemona. not that he was entirely at ease in her presence, it was nice to see a familiar face in a sea of strangers.

aphrodite was shaken after the reaping, no doubt. who wouldn't be? her goodbyes to her parents were brief and she refused to shed tears. should that be the last time she saw them, she didn't want to be remembered that way. aphrodite wanted to be remembered by her smile, and that she tried her best, and to be adored by the entirety of panem. all were achievable goals, but only if she masked how deeply impacted she was when her name was pulled out of the bowl with fluttering eyelashes and polite jokes. the one who was reaped with her, loch, was well known around four. virtually every ship in the district bore the dreadnought name. when she was little, aphrodite dreamed of boarding one of those beautiful vessels, sails and all. while she knew him, he didn't seem to know her. but the last thing she wanted to do was make an enemy out of anyone. the more allies, the better. following their first pushed around dinner, she slipped out of her room and across to loch's, rapping on the door. when he answered, she comfortably propped herself in the door frame and informed him, "you know, i know you."

loch hadn't had the opportunity to full process what had happened. they'd been whisked from the justice center right to the train, barely an opportunity to say goodbye to his family. he'd barely been able to breathe. he'd zoned out during dinner, pushing his food around the plate, nodding periodically. it wasn't until he retreated to his room that he'd started to process the reality of it all. he'd been reaped for the 74th hunger games, he was on a train to the capitol. in all likelihood, he'd never see district 4 again.