playing god (open)

[finley nereus conwy]

Finley stood amongst the other young men of district four in the town square. From what he could tell, they all had tesseraes and little siblings. It was just him and his parents. His sister had died nearly nine years ago in the Hunger Games. Now, he was waiting for his luck to hold out once more.

The obnoxious woman reached her hand into the bowl containing the boys' names and she fished around for an elusive one that evaded her grasp. Finley silently encouraged her to catch it so this ceremony could continue and he could get back to where his parents waited. She caught the piece of paper in her nails and pulled it out triumphantly. The tension in the air was thick, but Finley turned his head and made eye contact with Lura. She was a pretty girl of sixteen and the one he had had a crush on for several years.

He watched her blue-green eyes, so much like the sea, as the woman read the name aloud. He didn't catch it. Lura looked at him unabashed, scared and frightened. He didn't understand. They were calling boy names, right? He looked around, only to find everyone was looking at him. "Finley Conwy?" The woman announced again. Finley realized it was his name when he heard a familiar woman's cry pierce the air. His mother. He imagined her been cradled by his aging father's still powerful arms.

In a daze, Finley stepped forward numbly. He stiffly climbed the stairs to the platform and faced the crowd. It was silent, except for his mother's still loud cries of pain and mourning. They were sure he was safe. No tesserae, almost too old... His sister had been taken and now it looked like he was going to be taken by the Games also. He could not look for his mother. He could not lower his eyes.

Instead, Finley settled for watching, almost glaring, at the woman as she reached her hand into the bowl of girl names. Finley's only wish was that it was not Lura. Anyone but Lura. For if he had to watch Lura die... The world would be a darker place forever more. Her innocent eyes losing their beautiful light... Finley did not realize he was clenching his fists until his nails cut into his skin, causing his palms to bleed.

She had found the slip and she was revealing the female tribute.

[jenson morte crete]

This was it. This was the reaping day. The day Jenson was to step up to the plate. The day that some girl was going to be saved from her doom and another sent to it. Now it didn’t matter, she’d do it anyway. But now it was today, and she was not afraid. In a way, she was not afraid to die. She listened as she heard the male tribute’s name called Finley. She thought she had seen him before. Staring straight forward at the woman, she watched mutely as the woman reached for a slip. Her ears tuned in, she waited, waited for what seemed like an eternity, for the woman to call the name of the female tribute for their district.

Lura something. That’s who they called. Stepping forward, as loudly as she could without screaming, said, “I volunteer to take her place.” The mother looked grateful, and no one batted an eye that she could see. Jenson was the orphan girl. It didn’t matter if she died.

Ignoring some of the stares she got, she walked forward, people making something of an aisle as she walked through. Walking right up in front of where the lady and the Finley boy were, she repeated, “I volunteer to take Lura’s place.” The woman looked right down at her. She smelt like plastic in Jenson’s opinion. Staring right back into the woman’s eyes, she gave her a look that said, ‘I WILL be taking that girl’s place’. The woman asked for her name quietly, and she gave it.

“Lady’s and gentlemen, taking Lura’s place is Jenson Crete!”

She stepped up onto the platform, and stood on the other side of the woman, staring out at the people. Some of these people looked as though they were smiling at her. Jenson looked out at them mutely, her eyes showing no remorse, but not that look the Careers had. She looked right at the Careers, turning her head to the side of the crowd, where they stood. A few girls were glaring at her, from the Career group, but she sent them a, ‘Go to hell’ look. Looking around the crowd again, face impassive, she stared straight at a Peacemaker, and stared him down long enough for him to look away. No one would notice in the crowd that she was doing that, some of them were too worried about the Finley boy, and those around the Lura girl we’re rejoicing, it seemed. The fact that she was safe for another year. Next year, some Career would step up. She was no Career.

She was the kid who had something to prove, even if she died.

[finley nereus conwy]

The woman had found the name. She opened it and called out in her clear voice, "Lura Ripply." Finley's world shrunk to the size of a pinprick. All he saw was Lura, almost fainting from shock. Some held her up, others turned away. Finley wanted to cry, wanted to kill the Peacemakers and run away with Lura. Instead, he watched her with wide eyes. she took a shaky step forward, other teens passing her forward toward the platform. As she reached the steps, there was a rippling in the crowd. Finley managed to turn his head away from Lura to see the disturbance. A small girl, younger then him, was stepping forward.

She was taking Lura's place. Finley stared at this girl, surprised at her bravery and stupidity and he felt a need to worship at her feet for saving Lura. As Lura turned to run back to her parents, Finley caught her arm and whispered, "I will come back and I will marry you." She looked at him in amazement, but then smiled and ran to join her crying mother. Finley straightened as the little girl approached.

Finley smiled at her gently. She was so brave. Her name was Jenson Crete, an orphan. Well, if he could not make it back, he would make sure that she did. Finley turned toward the capitol lady and quietly listened to her words. "Please welcome the District Four Tributes for the Seventy-second annual Hunger Games! For the girls we have Jenson Crete, and for the boys we have Finley Conwy." A wailing was heard at his name.

Finley stood tall, trying to look strong and brave when he felt small and fearful. He was of average height, not as muscular as other fishermen or even the true Careers. He was a mash-up of the poor and the rich in this world. Their mentor was Finnick Odair. Finley was reserved about this. He did not know if he could trust any of them yet.

Finley let the others file off the platform before him. He caught up to Jenson easily and said to her quietly, "You are very brave. I want to thank you, but at the same time, I want you to run away while you can. You have saved Lura... But you have doomed one of us. But be assured, this year, District Four will win!" He clapped a hand on her small shoulder and followed the others inside the mayor's building.

[jenson morte crete]

Jenson didn’t have to turn around to hear Finley catching up with her. “Lura didn’t need to go into the Games. I did. That’s how it goes. Besides, of course the winner will be from four,” she looked at him, “I plan on winning. So I can show all those parents who only wanted to send me so their daughters wouldn’t get chosen that I’m worth more than I look.” And with that, she looked back forward, trying to not run away the moment they walked past the Peacemakers.

Anyone could not want to run away from them. “You know, at first, when I heard from those parents, that they wanted me to go in so they’re daughters would be spared, I was scared. Now I’m older. It’s not scary. It’s just showing who’s tougher.”

Looking up at the mayor’s building, she felt like she was going to gag. It wasn’t anywhere she’d want to be near. Why would she, after all, it wasn’t like there was anything there for her. As she looked around, she noticed all the girls that were around there that worked there. They looked groomed, like they had somewhere to be. Her on the other hand… well, Jenson knew her hair was probably a bit knotted right now, but it was a bit obvious that no mom or anything was going to come and brush her hair, and tell her everything was going to be alright.

[finley nereus conwy]

Finley blinked at her. "I suppose you're right. Lura would've died within the first couple of hours. She... can't handle things the way you do." He raised an eyebrow at her, "Should I be worried that you plan to kill me?" He asked, slightly grinning. He was not afraid of death. He had a plan, hang on for as long as he could and when it seemed hopeless, make sure Jenson survived. "Look, I want you to wait with me and meet my family. Will you?" The other part of his plan; make sure his parents would take care of her after the Games, when she was still alive and he wasn't. Finley had a big heart and he knew it would cost him dearly in the coming weeks, but what could he do?

He was silent for a moment as he walked along beside her. "I am not afraid now. I watched my sister die before my eyes in these games when I was seven. I know how to survive from her mistakes, and survive just long enough to make sure you win." He lowered himself a bit to whisper in her ear, "I'm going to make sure that you make it out. No matter what." He straightened and smiled at her.

They arrived at the mayor's building. The Justice building, some called it. Finley became nervous, surrounded by so many officials and peacekeepers. They were going to say goodbye to their families. He did not want to think about his mom, if she was even still conscious. She might have passed out. She had a weak heart. Finley knew his father would take care of her, just like he had done when Rea died. Finley wiped his sweating palms on his heavy jacket, the one that protected him against the cool sea breezes. "Well, Miss Jenson, what are we going to do?" He looked at the little girl and smiled again.

He could see his parents silhouettes growing larger as they approached the office they were in.