`annoucements *katniss/other district 12 people?

[Peeta Mellark]

It was taking a lot of will power for him not to close his eyes and try to forget the noises. People were in uproar it was worse than it ever had been before. The cries, screams, and up rage about what had just happened... it was all like something from a horrific dream. Then again, Peeta's realities were worse than even the most horrible dreams. What he saw in the Hunger Games was by far worse than any bad dream he ever experienced, and now, any of his nightmares focused around the Hunger Games that or losing Katniss. He had to remember that he hadn't lost Katniss yet, and he was about to squeeze her hand a little more just to remind himself that she was still alive and right next to him. However, that's when she let go...

He looked out to the crowd and noticed Gale was holding Primrose who was still crying, and he knew Katniss wanted to see her baby sister. He frowned ever so lightly and in the back of his head kept telling himself it was going to be okay, because Katniss would come home and be able to be with her sister again. Peeta just had to keep telling himself that because he could not handle this whole situation with the thoughts of Katniss not being able to go on and live her life. It pained him even more than his own thoughts of himself dying.

He reached out to grab Katniss's hand and pull her back to him. And, again it was taking all of his will power not to wrap his arms around her in a hug, and whisper that everything was going to be ok. He would never do this for two reasons; and that was because of the Capitol watching their every move. And because if he told Katniss everything was going to be ok she'd start uncovering his plot to keep her alive, so she gets back to her family safely... and he already knew that conversation wouldn't go as while as he'd like it to. So instead, he simply ran a thumb over the back of her hand again, trying to calm her down a bit. They could not show any sign of weakness or the capitol would use it against them...

They were now being ushered off the stage and Peeta took one final look over at his family, and nodded at them, before exiting the stage and being taken to the room where he would do his final visitations before they left for the Capitol.

Even away from the stage, he could still here the hysterics from the crowd. District 12 was going to experience hell tonight.

ATTIRE nice white shirt with black pants. CREDIT sam ! of Confronting the Faceless. Don't remove the credit or I will find you. LYRICS hello cold world - paramore NOTES notes here WORD COUNT 453

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[Primrose Everdeen]

Primrose didn't want to wake up that morning at all. She had heard about the games being changed up this year. She had nothing to fear, in the terms of her being picked. She couldn't imagine herself being picked. Not again at least. And she knew that if she did, her sister, Katniss, would throw herself into the arena again before she let her go. But she was worried sick for her. She held Buttercup in her arms as she slept beside her mother, and when she noticed it was now morning, she knew that she had to go. She took a shaking breath as she got out of bed.

She was dressed and ready to go to the reaping with her sister. She stood with her mother and Gale while her sister stood with Peeta while waiting for the tributes to be announced. This is when it finally clicked into Primrose's head that her sister was going to go into the arena again no matter what happened. Of course she was. She was the only female tribute alive here in District 12. When Katniss was called and Peeta volunteered for Haymitch, she burst into a fit of tears. She tugged at her mother's clothes and buried her face in them for comfort. Though her mother was just as fragile and she was crying along with Primrose, just not quite as obvious. Mrs. Everdeen's cries were more silent and she looked more hallow than anything.

"No, Katniss, NO!" she shrieked as she felt herself pulling away from her mother and running towards her sister that was walking onto the stage, once again. She had screamed these words once before. She couldn't stand to see her big sister taken away from her again. What if she never came back? What if the last time was truly just an accident? But she felt herself being yanked back by peacekeepers and being carried away by Gale again. She cried into his shoulder, not wanting to think of her sister dying. Or even Peeta dying, for that matter. She had grown to like the boy with the bread by watching him on the screen when she got to watch the few parts of the last Hunger Games. She just couldn't stand death.

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[Leon Zephyr]

((OOC: I'll make it pretty later))

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The sun rose into the dark sky filling the morning with light. The way Leon's bed was positioned in his house the window received the first of the morning's light. The sun struck against his eyes. His brow furrowing with irritation. He opened his eyes greeting the morning sun with a deep depressed sigh. Another sleepless night, he didn't get a wink of sleep. The images and memories of his friends being dragged away by the reaping filled his head once more. Another sigh escaped his lips, the reaping. That dreadful day that led to that dreadful event about a week afterwards. The Hunger Games. Ugh, Just the thought of it made his gut clench. Was he going to vomit? He felt like it, then again he hadn't eaten all day yesterday so it was doubtful there was nothing in his stomach to vomit. Why hadn't he eaten? He wasn't hungry. Heh, Hungry, Hunger Games, on any other day that would be funny.

He lay in bed feeling numb, the world around him blotting out everything important to him. The Hunger Games, the 75^th Hunger Games to be honest. Seventy-Five years of children dying. Seventy-Five years of people's suffering. Seventy-Five years of punishment by the Capitol for launching a rebellion against them. A rebellion that was inevitably futile, the Capitol didn't beat us, they destroyed us. The laughed as they stomped on us with their boot. Yet another sigh left his lips. Why? Why? Panem was already being sucked from life enough through the Capitol. Why did they even try? They had to have known they didn't stand a chance. They had to know that they would lose. They had to know... didn't they?

Quiet footstep down the hall, his mother was coming to wake him up to get ready for the reaping. She should already know that he was awake, that he didn't get any sleep last night. As she opened the door, not a word was spoken, Leon just lolled his head towards her. She was covered in her supplies. He could smell it on her, wasn't hard, she was also covered in the dust. Rosemary, Basil, Mint? Why was she using Mint? No, that smell wasn't coming from her, it was coming from down the hall from the kitchen. Ah, she made tea. "I'll be up in a minute." He muttered trying to motivate himself to move. Her lower lip trembled, but she didn't move, she stood in the doorway taking the full image of her son. All Seventeen years of him.

She had done this since he was twelve, just in cause she lost him to the Games. She would remember him, while he was still at home with her, under her care. Finally she moved away from the door frame allowing him to get ready. Leon forced himself up, taking the short walk to the restroom, removing his clothes and taking a shower. What were the chances he was to be chosen? He didn't have to sign up for any Tessera, right? His family was considered wealthy, other than the mayor, and the victors. His nose wrinkled at the thought of the Victors. Haymitch, someone he didn't have a problem with. It was the newest ones, Katniss Everdeen, and Peeta Mellark, the "Star-cross lovers" as the Capitol seems to call them. Pfft, Pathetic, with Katniss's terrible acting it was amazing anyone believed them.

He let his anger slide, today wasn't the day to fill with tension, it was already stressful enough without it. Besides, he can't really blame either of them. Do whatever it takes to survive, No? It's the games, as long as you live who cares...

What's more he can't be mad at either of them, ever since they won the games the town as received more food, so the kids on the street are that much less hungry. Not to mention Katniss's frequent visits, and plentiful payment. So, there was that.

Finally he turned the water off, draping a towel over himself and returning to his room. What clothes... what clothes indeed. The Peacekeepers require you to look, somewhat presentable when you attend the reaping just in case on the chance your name is called. Taking out his bed white button up shirt, and a pair of black pants. Shoes? He only had one pair, so they would have to make due. Sliding on his shoes he was fully ready. Fully ready to be chosen if needbe and fully ready to die in the arena. Did I mention it was the 75^th Hunger Games? Not only did they have to deal with the regular Games but that meant a Quarter Quell. Meaning they mixed things up a little bit, usually President Snow... the bastard; announced the Quell event himself to all of Panem but this year he decided to allow the announcer, in their case Effie Trinket... ugh to explain the Quell. Great, more incessant speech.

He walked out of his room, down the hall making his way into the kitchen where the scent of Mint was strongest. He took a deep breath allowing a small smile cross his face, the tea was already poured into cups awaiting the be drank. Leon sat at the table silently sipping his tea, it was soothing actually having substance in his stomach. Perhaps he would have some bread before he left. His mother on the other hand, refused to touch her tea, staring at it blankly. What was up with her? She usually wasn't this bad. "Mom, I'm going to be okay. I promise, you'll see." His mother looked up her big eyes sparkling with tears. He quickly removed himself from his seat, and walked over to her on the other side, wrapping his arms around her in a deep hug. Kissing her forehead in a soothing manner, "Drink up. It's almost time to leave."

It's not usually like this. Usually it was her taking care of him. Keeping him out of trouble. But this day, this one day. He needed to take care of her. She complied and silently drank her tea while Leon grabbed a loaf of bread splitting it in half between them.

God, he felt so much better with that bread in his stomach. But... bread can only take you so far... especially whenever today was the day of the reaping. The children aligned themselves up with age. While the Victors, the only three stood in a special area and the adults stood in the back completely helpless as they watched their children be sacrificed. One time Leon actually did the calculations by the rate of people having children and the Games every year... eventually the Capitol would kill their people into extinction. Then what would they be left with? Nothing... and it would be their fault. But then again, this would take... years upon years of suffering.

Effie Trinket walked up on stage, as she did every year. He even mocked her as she did it. "Happy Hunger Games. And remember, May the Odd be Ever in your Favor." Yeah, Yeah Effie just get along with it already will ya'? She pulled out a small slip of paper, no doubt the Quarter Quell. "This year, as everyone, of course, knows the hunger games are going to be delivered differently." As per usual, Leon was indeed correct. "This year there is going to be two girls, and two boys, taken from each district to participate in the games..."

This instantly caught Leon's attention, crazy Capitol woman in the orange wig say WHUT?! But that was the Quarter Quell from before. They wouldn't repeat the same ones two Quells in a row... would they? "And, one boy, and one girl from the victor pile will be chosen to go inside the arena to help these tributes. They will not be coming out alive." Ah! So that was the catch... gotcha...

Leon's eyes wandered back towards the Victors, ouch... he would HATE to be in their shoes right now. They KNOW they're gonna die... but it's possible for the tributes to live although however doubtful. Our only female Victor, Katniss Everdeen, sucks even worse whenever you don't have a choice. Next, well this was obvious, Peeta would volunteer even if Haymitch was called. If they wanted to keep up the "Star-Crossed lovers" Spiel he had to go back in. And in time, they did, and again he was correct.

Now, finally time for the Tributes themselves, Leon's heart began to race, as usual Effie chose to pick the women first. Why was he so nervous? Probably because... because he didn't want one of his friends to go up there. Effie circled around the bowl before plucking a name out, and unfolding it neatly. Carefully reading the name written on it. "Araceli Ricci." Leon's heart dropped into his stomach. He didn't know her well, but she was the sister of his best friend. The guy he always hung out with at school. He furrowed his eyes, unable to even look, he knew she was crying he could hear it. As she slowly walked up to the stage taking her place on the stage. "Any Volunteers?" Effie called out. Leon's eyes popped open, waiting for someone to call out that they Volunteer, that they would take her place. But no such words ever appear, they never did. The only person that has ever done so was Katniss, whenever she volunteered for her sister.

"Now time for the boys." What was left of his heart blazed in his chest. Was he going to vomit? He couldn't tell please.. please God don't let it be me... I... I couldn't... "Dante Ricci! Oooh, Siblings." The remainder of Leon's heart dropped completely. No.... that... that can't be. But he knew it was true... he knew it was completely possible. He cared for Dante like a brother, but couldn't stand looking at him as he passed by him down to the stage. Taking his place next to his sister, wails being heard from no doubt their other siblings in the crowd. Once more Effie called out. "Any Volunteers?" Leon's lips were moving before he could realize what he was doing.

"I Volunteer..."

He muttered. The kids around him that were just able to hear him turned towards him in bewilderment. But Effie didn't hear him and went to continue her announcements. "Since no-one will Volunteer then we have our tributes."

Leon didn't care any more, his mind had cracked and sanity had no more meaning to him. He muttered, "Stupid Capitol Waste!" The children around him became even more bewildered when they heard those words exit his mouth as well. Leon had never bad mouthed the Capitol, if for no other reason not to get in trouble. His voice grew to a very loud shout, like he was practically yelling at Effie herself. "I Volunteer as Tribute!."

Effie turned on her heel to the crowd seeking the origination of the voice. Leon stepped underneath the roped in area, walking up to the stage. Effie in a excited glee, rushed Dante off in order to welcome her new tribute. Leon's eyes glanced up at Dante as they passed each other. Dante whispered to him under his breath. "Don't die."

Leon took his place on the stage standing next to his fellow tribute. His eyes locked on his mother, who was which crying her eyes out, but was completely helpless in keeping her baby from going. Effie walked up to him putting a Microphone in front of his face. "So, what's your name?" Leon gently blinked, turning his stare towards Effie. Cold, Hard, Emotionless eyes peering directly at her.

Finally he answers, "Speedy."

[Araceli Ricci]

Ara honestly didn't hear her brother's name called. She wasn't thinking about it at much as she should have because she didn't want to face that. She didn't realize Date was called until he was standing next to her. She looked up at her seventeen year old brother, her grey eyes wide with horror and she shook her head. "Dante..." she whispered but he silenced her by taking her and and keeping her close to him. She looked out into the crowd when Effie asked for volunteers praying for one. When she heard no offers her face fell even though she knew their would be no one.

'I Volunteer as Tribute!.'

She looked over at the voice and saw Dante's best friend, Leon, hurrying towards the stage. Dante was escorted off and Leon led up and she smiled ever so slightly as he said his name was Speedy. She looked at her fellow tribute in admiration and happiness, then at Effie as she looked flustered with the lack of a last name. She laughed hesitantly and smiled brightly at him. "Well You are the second volunteer in Distric 12 history!" She clapped but no one followed suite so she turned back to the crowd and put of her bubbly face still and cried out with what seemed to be glee, though she was still clearly upset over Katniss and Peeta going back in. "District 12, I give you your Tributes and Victors going into the Arena this year!"

With that Effie ushered both Ara and Leon off the stage to meet with friends and family before the train. Ara looked out towards her family and sighed not wanting to leave them but glad Dante was staying. She would have to thank Leon later. Profusely. But for now, saying good bye to her siblings was top priority.