Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It was the day of the reaping.
Cyn was… not thrilled.

Due to her being a drone, she knew she could enter the games, but she would have to be volunteered.
And even worse, Tessa would be added in extra by her mother for honor, which meant while she was gone Louisa was free to do whatever she wanted with us.

This was probably against the rules, but she obviously didn’t do it herself, which meant she could send in multiple different drone servants to ensure the job done. Even if she could add her name once, Tessa would probably still be picked.

It would be one small Cynthia against a pond of other names and an ocean of Tessas. It would be a miracle even for Tessa to not be picked.

“Disappointed pace.”

She was pacing back and forth, not liking the look of this situation one bit.

She didn’t know what she should do. Should she run away? Or take N with her. Better two lone drones than one lone drone who looked like a lost little girl.

Tessa would probably have a plan for them, but even then we would be good as dead on the street, or picked up by some other random human. And with J and V with us. Ew.

Tessa keeps promising us that if she gets picked, she’ll come back no matter what. We all know that she’s just saying that to make us feel better, as none of us really know what will happen.

She finally froze in place.

“Brainblast!”

She knew what she would do now. She would put slips with her name in the jar, just as Louisa makes drones do with Tessa! It couldn’t be that hard, could it?
__________________________________________________________________________

“…Sneaky sneaky…”

She was sneaking out of the manor.

“…Get snuck up on…”

She was sneaking out of the gate.

“…I am so sneaky… startled oof.”

“AGH!”

She had walked into someone. Uh oh.

“Nervous expression, sorry!! I- oh. Just a drone like me. Silly.”

Thankfully it hadn’t been a human.

“H-hey… watch where you’re going. We could get in trouble… and if you’re trying to be sneaky, saying ‘Sneaky’ will get you caught.”

“Sheepish glance.”

The messy-haired drone continued moving away from the manor, jar of paper slips in hand, terrified as-
Wait. Paper slips.

“Wait! Paper person!! Giggle. Paperson.”

The drone stopped as Cyn caught up, looking back at her.

“Look- little.. uh..”

“Cyn.”

“Look, Cyn… my job right now is really tough, and if I got caught.. I…”

“What are you doing?”

“Uh…”

The drone just paused, displaying on their visor:

[ADDING SLIPS]
[LOUISA’S ORDERS]
[CAN’T GET CAUGHT]
[DO NOT TELL]

“Happy bouncing. Perfect.”

“…you don’t understand what this means for me, do you...?”

“It doesn’t matter now. I need your assistance.”

“You mean helping you? With what, may I ask…?”

“Adding my name to the jar.”

The drone was in shock, staring at Cyn as if she had eldritch appendages.

“…Excuse me!? Adding YOUR name?? That’s even more against the rules than adding extra Tessas!! I was just going to dump these anyway…”

“Please. I want to play.”

“Cyn. The hunger games, no matter how much they look like- are NOT games… I- I shouldn’t even be talking to you right now…”

The drone began walking away before Cyn grabbed their sleeve and pulled them backward, making the poor drone stumble and almost fall, dropping the jar of slips on the ground.

“AGH-“

“No. You are helping me.”

“AH! OH NO!”

They kneeled down and began collecting the slips back into the jar.

“Add my name.”

They finished collecting the slips and stood up, dusting the jar off

“Are you nuts!? If a human saw that we could’ve been killed!!”

“It won’t happen again if I go to the Games.”

“I-“

The drone just looked defeated.

“You’re just too young… if something happened-“

“It won’t.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“I have backups. Insistent glare. If you don’t add my name, then I will.”

She didn’t actually know where the jars were, and didn’t know how to add her name in. She was bluffing.

“Wh-whoa!! Don’t do that, don’t do that…”

The drone sighed.

“Ok, fine. I’ll add your name…”

“Triumphant twirl. Yippee!!!”

“I can’t believe I’m doing this… I’ll put the slips in after this batch, yeah?”

“Okee, Paperson. Giggle.”

“Paperson??”

“Yes. You’re the person with the paper, so I called you Paperson.”

The drone let out a weak chuckle.

“It’s G… but I guess you can call me paperson, little goober. So what’s the name I should put on the slip?”

“Cynthia Elliott.”

Chapter Text

It was the day of the Reaping. Cyn couldn’t sleep last night, anxious about whether she would be picked.

And now, she was stuck in the basement, as usual. Everyone refused to let her go to the Reaping, having to fight her into the basement to keep her safe. She didn’t want safety, however. She had wanted to be picked.

“Pissed off kick. Trapdoor attack.”

She was doing everything she could to bust open the trapdoor, despite it being locked shut. She even attempted using the solver, but unfortunately lockpicking something without being able to see it wasn’t easy. It wasn’t till she could hear the lock clicking she stopped.

“Surprised stare.”

It a smaller looking version of G with longer hair and a dress who opened the door.

The smaller G looked at her.

“Huh, you look strange. Can you hold up your head or are you choosing to tilt it like that?

“Slightly offended squint.”

The new rude drone looked around Cyn’s size, if not smaller. She then very enthusiastically said,

“Sorry. I don’t really have a filter. Name’s D! G told me to get you. I’M THE ONE WHO LOCKPICKED THE LOCK BY THE WAY! Cool, right?”

“Stifled laugh. Did you eat the lock, D?”

“Oh, no. I just picked it.”

D said this with the nonchalance of someone who gets asked it they ate inedible objects daily. And possibly as if she was convinced not to eat it.

D suddenly hoisted her out of the basement.

“…anyways, we have to get you out of here! You’ll be late for the reaping!”

Cyn stumbled a bit.

“Oops. Sorry. Also hurry- eeehhhhh…”

D noticed the dirty maid uniform Cyn was wearing.

“Uh… do you have anything else to wear? That low-key looks like garbage. No offense, skibidi.”

Cyn looked down at her uniform. She didn’t think it was that bad, although she did know Tessa’s dresses were far prettier. And what in the world did skibidi mean? That phrase was ancient.

“I only have this.”

“Uh, ok.. then let’s just go. Ditch the hat.”

D removed the hat from Cyn’s head, before Cyn snatched it back.

“Whoops. D, boundaries…”

D muttered to herself.

Cyn then took the bow off the hat and tossed the hat aside.

“I’m keeping the bow.”

“Ooh, fair! I kinda want more bows now.”

D took the bow and put it in Cyn’s hair as well as she could.

“Okay, you have your bow… but-“

Cyn cut D off.

“Where’s Paperson?”

“…Who?”

What was that drone’s name again…? D literally said it a few seconds ago… oh, right!

“Where’s G?”

“Oh, uh… my big sibling? They uh… they got caught. The slips were removed. I forgot to tell you… uh.. but you should still go!! Just in case, right…? Anyways… G is getting uh… disassembled… later.”

D could hardly pronounce the word ‘disassembled’ without having to fight her despair back, not wanting to look like a baby in front of someone she just met.

Cyn froze in place.

“Horrified stare. The slips are gone…? How will I get in now? It’s too late!?”

“I don’t know!”

“But… I wanted to play.”

“G is being disassembled this afternoon and you’re worried about the HUNGER GAMES!?”

Cyn didn’t understand. G had backups. Probably. Of course the games are her main concern. However, G being given up on by the humans so easily made her want to devour everything she saw. She didn’t like being snapped at either.

“I have backups.”

“What is wrong with you…? You… you’re a no rizz beta.”

“Agitated eyeroll. I don’t know what that means.”

“It means you suck.”

She wasn’t expecting that at all, and it kind of shook her, before she brushed it off. She was trying to think of how to respond, with a small smile on her face and empty eyes the whole time. Before she could respond, D began storming off.

“Don’t talk to me. And here I thought I could get a friend who’s actually my age and chaos level.”

“Quick to decide. Change your mind when I get back, silly?”

She was repressing the urge to kill D right then and there.

“Don’t talk to me.”

She followed D around a corner.

“But I won’t be selected. I need someone to play with.”

“Shut. Up.”

She followed G across the hallway.

“But playing by myself got old. It’s boooriii-“

D stopped in her tracks and whipped around to snap,

“DO YOU EVER STOP TALKING?”

Cyn just calmly stood there. She was used to being yelled at by humans, why not her own kind too?

“D. Big brother is busy.”

“You should be too.”

She began to walk away again, a bit more hastily this time. Cyn followed.

“We can play with the dolls.”

“No.”

“We can mutilate them.”

“Tempting, but no.”

“We can skin a furby.”

“We don’t even have a furby.”

“Get one from the dump!”

“Listen. Stop. Following me. Go to that reaping or something. You’re late anyway.”

“I don’t feel like going to the crowd of crushed dreams.”

“Metal line. But- ugh. NO! You’re so annoying. Go away. Please.”

D suddenly dashed off as fast as she could, Cyn not even bothering to follow now. She was used to being called annoying as well, she was referred to that way quite often in fact. But it still kind of hurt. It doesn’t matter what hurts and what doesn’t now though. It’ll all change in the future anyway.

Eventually she decided she wanted to go to the reaping to see off Tessa since she would almost inevitably be picked.

She bolted around the corner for the reaping, dodging other servants and occasionally rolling her ankle and falling over, before getting back up to keep running.

Finally, after running past multiple appalled humans and confused drones, she reached the area of the reaping. She had thankfully missed the long introduction they put on every year. She scrambled into the audience just in time to hear,

“Where is Cynthia Elliott?”

She instantly pushed through the crowd at this. How did she get picked? She didn’t know.

“Excited smile. Me! I’m Cyn!”

The humans all looked appalled. A drone in the name jar? That couldn’t be right. But nobody else there was named ‘Cynthia Elliott’ to object.

I guess the peacekeepers got lazy and missed a Cyn slip. Or maybe they wanted to keep some, as they are Drones after all.

Cyn scrambled up the stage.

“Proud stance.”

“Now, hold on. Who added a drone in a slip? It’s against the-“

Cyn whipped around and gave her an

“Intimidating Glare. I was chosen, fair and square. I am going.”

“…Ah.. oh.. ok then! For our lady tribute, we have Cynthia Elliott!”

“CYN!! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?” Tessa began pushing her way through the crowd, as Peacekeepers began making their way to her.

Cyn froze. She never thought through what to say to Tessa when she was to go. She would come back though, so it wasn’t a big deal. To Cyn, at least.

“…a-and now to choose the lucky gentleman as the other tribute..!”

Tessa was trying to run for Cyn, fighting against the Peacekeepers to get to her, ignoring her mother’s furious voice

“Tessa James Elliott! This is not proper behavior for a lady such as yourself!”

Cyn didn’t really hear much else of what happened on the stage. She was distracted by the sight in the audience in front of her.

Louisa then hit Tessa’s back with her fan, causing Tessa to yelp in pain, as Tessa turned around in fear of her mother and anger at the unfairness of the situation.

“What on earth do you see in that dumpster pet? I’ll be relieved to see that little anti-Christ gone, in fact.”

Louisa hit Tessa once again, causing her to wince as she was being held in place by the peacekeepers.

“CYN!”

“Simmer down, young lady!” Louisa squawked.

“…And now to announce the tributes of District 1, eh.. Cynthia Elliott and Theodore Willworth!”

Chapter Text

Cyn and Theodore had been led into the train. They were shown around, before being shown to their mentor. Cyn ignored them both however, she didn’t want to interact with humans at that moment. She was sick of their cruelties and couldn’t wait till the time was right to devour this planet.

“Gotta prepare Tessa first though, so she can come with me to the next planet.”

She thought to herself.

She had just finished eating basically everything in the train, Theodore and the mentor having to sneak little scraps when she wasn’t looking. She also changed into a silky yellow dress, keeping her bow. She was sitting in a chair in the main area of the train in the same room as the humans.

“Stab.”

She suddenly stabbed the table. It helped her collect herself, and she also just found it fun. Theodore flinched at the sound, while the mentor just rolled his eyes.

“Stab, stab.”

She continued stabbing the table, making the humans in the train stare at her.

Theodore was the one to speak.

“Can you at least do that quietly? I’m trying to get some info on not dying over here.”

“I can’t teach one and not the other. If she wants to turn the table into Swiss cheese, go ahead and join her.”

“You’re just saying that because you don’t feel like teaching us!”

“Precisely. I was told winning the games would grant freedom and honor, not having to teach arrogant babies how to win.”

“Annoyed expression. Shut up.”

Theodore gave the two an offended look.

“You both could at least have some manners.”

“My bad, suppressed giggle. Annoyance present in facial features, I would like you all to turn down your volumes as your existing voices cause me no inconvenience besides being irritating. I hope you understand.”

“Wow, this one is bold,” The mentor pointed out, eyeing her, “How have you not been disassembled with that attitude?”

“I actua-“ she cut herself off. Maybe the humans here shouldn’t be aware of the fact that she basically came back from the dead.

Theodore squinted at her, suspicious, as his eyes began traveling to the band on her arm.

“…you were saying…?”

Cyn quickly ripped off the band, stabbed it a few times, looked for an open window, seeing there were none then popped it in her mouth and swallowed. Everyone in the train was just staring.

“Did you really just do that.” The mentor was fed up already, tempted to just leave.

“It’s still in my throat. Giggle.”

“EXCUSE ME!?” Theodore took a step back in horror.

“I’m out.” With these simple words, the mentor walked through the door into the next train car.

“Wait no! Cynthia, you made James leave!!”

“Who’s James? Choke.”

“He’s our mentor!- are you choking?”

“No.”

“Are you-“

Before he could finish his sentence, Cyn choked up her disassembly band and immediately hid it in her sleeve.

“…you’re disgusting.”

“Mildly bitter. Meanie, Theodore.”

“…Why did you say my name like that?”

“I was saying it with murderous undertone, Theodore.”

“Just- stop saying it like that!!”

“Ok, Theodore.”

“Whatever. Shut up, Cynthia.”

“That’s my thing, Theodore.”

“Don’t care, Cynthia.”

“Furious punch.”

She punched the window of the train, shattering it.

“AAAGH- HOLY SH_T, CYNTHIA WHAT THE HELL?”

“Karma, Theodore.”

“Th-thats not karma, that’s PUNISHMENT!!”

The mentor then rushed in.

“What the-“

“SHE BROKE THE WINDOW!”

“I- I had trash. Teehee.”

She grabbed and flung her band out the window, before getting grabbed by the shoulders. She cautiously eyed the trash can not too far away.

“…Oops, theres a trash can. Let go.”

“This mentor has no understanding of personal space…” She thought.

“Do not. Do that. Again. We could get in trouble.”

“Don’t care, giggle.”

She was shoved into a chair by the mentor.

“WELL MAYBE YOU WILL CARE WHEN YOU’RE IN TROUBLE!”

“Agitated expression.”

She shoved the mentor aside with the Absolute Solver, making him holler in surprise as Cyn ran down the train, hiding under a table by the time she felt like she ran far enough. She wasn’t scared, just fed up. She hoped she hadn’t given the impression of a skittish chicken who runs from her problems.

Although humans are truly unpredictable.

She waited there a while, fidgeting with her bow, fantasizing about the games and killing everyone, and playing Snake on her visor until the train finally came to a stop.
They were finally there, at the hotel where the tributes stay and train till the games.

Chapter Text

Cyn flopped onto her bed.

“Giggle. Maniacal laugh. Hehehaha.. ha, ha..”

She was… kind of overexcited

“Rolly worm. Teehee. Flip flop!”

Eventually she calmed down and ended up sitting on the bed, before shifting to sit on the floor.
She sat there for a while, playing Snake on her visor again until Theodore finally came in.

“Cyn. What was that… triangle fling you did…?”

“What in the living mango is a triangle fling. Playful giggle.”

“This isn’t a game, Cyn! I’m being serious.”

“Boring.”

“What was that yellow thing you used!?”

The thing is, Cyn knew exactly what Theodore was speaking about. But it was supposed to be a big reveal to the humans when people were demonstrating what they could do.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m just a normal girl. Like you.”

“I’m a guy.”

“Doesn’t matter. We’re both normal was my point, idiot..-“

“I’m reporting your weird.. glowing thing.”

Well that wasn’t good. It would ruin the surprise!

She blocked him in the doorway, unknowingly flashing the symbol on her left eyes

“Threatening stance.”

“Whoa. Hey. It’s not my fault you’re some kind of hellspawn and are trying to hide the obvious!”

“Angry squint. Do not. Mess up. My game.”

“Your- what?”

“Do. Not. Tell.”

“And what are you gonna do? We aren’t allowed to fight before the ‘Games.”

That was true. She could get into worse trouble than before.

Theodore was shaking. He was very obviously frightened, but he would never admit it even if under the torture of peeling off overly long hangnails.

“Then you’ll have to be my first target in the arena. I’ll chase you till your death instead of waiting. Peel your skin. Squish your eyes. Eat your pancreas. Burn your hair. Break your bones. Devour-“

“Holy freaking- ok! Ok, fine! I won’t tell the other tributes. God. Can I go now?”

“K.”

She moved away from his path, fighting the urge to punch him in the face. She slammed her door shut and ripped a few fibers from the rug, using them as dolls to play with, roleplaying them as herself and Theodore. She would play the same game over and over, making the ‘Cyn’ rug fiber brutally murder the ‘Theodore’ rug fiber in a variety of ways.

“Hello, Theodore, having a good day? Too bad, it’s over!”

“What do you mean, Cyn? I’m having a bad day because I’m Theodore! What do you mean it’s over? I talk too much because I’m an annoying rich huma-“

“Stab. Stab. Neck bite, skin tear. EEEAAAT.”

“AAAGH! AAAAGH!! AAAAAAAAAAAAGHHHHH…… choke.”

“Giggle, laughing. Hehehhaha!”

The mentor kicked open the door and got ready to grab Cyn, before realizing it’s just a game. With rug fibers.

“Startled- Blank stare.”

Wow. How many times had she been startled? She has to stop.

“I mean, aggressive s-“

No, she had used stance a lot too. And she wasn’t even standing. She was starting to run out of startled suffixes. I mean, aggressive suffixes.

“Aggressive- startle, no. I- nodddd. No. Huh.”

“Kid. Calm down.”

“You kicked open my door.”

“I thought you were killing Theodore. That’s a creepily good impression. Don’t do it again.”

“Why is everyone here a serious boring rich man?”

“Excuse me?”

“Nothing, uh… Jelly.”

“What…?”

“What’s your name again.”

“It’s James. JAMES. not ‘Jelly’.”

James muttered something under his breath before beginning to leave, pausing at the doorway.

“Oh, by the way you’re meeting your stylist in 5.”

And with that he left.

“I needed more than 5 minutes.”

She thought aloud, before unsteadily getting up and scrambling to meet the stylist.

______________________________________________

She was finally finished at the prep rooms. The other drones there were mostly preparing the humans and weren’t allowed to speak. The stylists seemed to be humans though, unfortunately in Cyn’s eyes.
She was shortly shown to her stylist and surprisingly, the stylist seemed happy with Cyn’s presence.

“So they really did bring a drone!”

“You aren’t an annoying human, right?”

She realized she’s not going to get a very clear answer from this question.

“Uhhhh…. No?”

“Good. Suspicious glare.”

“That was an odd question.”

“Ignore that.”

“Okayyyyy…? My name is Maria. I’m here to dress you up and accompany you to the arena.”

“Okee.”

She wasn’t that thrilled that she had to exist alongside a human she wouldn’t be killing in the arena, but at least she got to be pretty!

Chapter Text

Cyn was keeping Maria busy. She had multiple desires and ideas for the costume she would wear at the chariot parade.

“Cargo shorts.”

“Cyn, I can’t give you cargo shorts. They’re actually not that stylish…”

“Yes they are!”

“I just can’t-“

“Do you not like cargo shorts?”

“I… is there anything else you can wear?”

Cyn hardly thought before chirping,

“Bows!”

“Good! That’s good, we can add that.”

“Why no cargo shorts? Disappointed shuffle.”

“Uh… Cyn, the theme I’m supposed to dress you with is luxury.”

“Cargo shorts are comfortable. Very. Co-“

“BEAUTIFUL luxury. STYLISH luxury. Think… a lush boa. Or a plushy and fabulous dress with a floofy gold trim.”

“Cargo shorts are fabulous. Eyeroll.”

“…Not to others…”

“Golden cargo shorts?”

“Pfft- no. For luxury-“

“A giant. Bow. On my head.”

“…Okay! A-“

“And cargo shorts.”

“You’re kinda difficult to work with…”

“I know. Giggle. May I have a mango now?”

Maria was trying to stay cheerful and calm, but it was getting tricky at this point. Cyn was not cut out for agreement.

“When did you ask for a mango?”

“Just now.”

“Sorry, it’s not up to me…”

“Awwww. Sad face.”

“Can we focus? We don’t have a lot of time. Where’s Theodore?”

“Dunno. He’s late I guess. I could wear… a dress. Hey! That rhymed.”

Maria sighed, trying not to sound disappointed while smiling a bit at her childish antics.

“Good… good suggestion. I think purple would be the right color. For the main color scheme.”

“Guess what mine is!”

She paused.

“What?”

“Guess what my favorite color is!”

“Uhhhh…”

Maria decided to play along as she looked at Cyn, thinking a bit before responding,

“Purple..?”

“I like pourple too. But [incorrectbuzzer.mp3]”

Maria chuckled a bit.

“Pfft- shh! Is it.. black?”

“Nopesiessss! [quietincorrectbuzzer.mp3]”

“Yellow?”

Cyn’s eyes instantly lit up, somehow maintaining their emptiness as she couldn’t help but

“Happily bounce, YIPPEEEE!”

“Shhh! Silly goober, inside voice.”

“How do I get inside of a voice?”

Cyn knew what she meant, but she thought this question would be funny and waste time. Maria knew she knew what she meant however.

“Cyn, I know you know what I mean.”

“Giggle. I know, silly.”

“You’re the silly!”

Maria Pat Cyn on the head a few times. She felt as if she could get used to this human, although not on the level of a second Tessa, of course.

“I know a lot of people don’t like the fact that a drone was chosen for the ‘Games here,”

She began. Cyn stared at her with her usual soulless smile as she continued,

“But I personally think this could be fun, and it seems like you’re into it! Just… be careful. I hope you know what to expect here, right?”

Cyn gave a little nod. She thought she knew plenty. In reality she watched for a few years and read 2 wikipedias, and didn’t quite understand what’s under the exciting and fun mask they hide behind. But she considered herself an expert, never to be questioned.

Maria smiled warmly with a bit of worry in her eye. She hid most of her anxiety pretty well, considering what’s going on.

“Just… don’t die out there ok? It’s gonna take a lot of work to get the sponsors to like you, and part of that is a great outfit!”

“Yes. I will be pretty. Just like Tessa.”

“Yes! Just like… Tessa??”

She was a bit confused by this, but brushed it off assuming that it was probably as simple as someone she looked up to. Of course she wouldn’t know about Cyn’s creepy obsession with Tessa, and she’d like to keep it that way.

“Well hey. I know you’re going to get the best outcome you could. Because you’re silly, cute, and lovable! Maybe others will agree? Hopefully.”

“Nopefully.”

Maria stopped and just looked for a moment.

“Well, to most, yeah you might be right. But I can’t be the only one with a soft spot for the underdogs. Especially an underdog from district 1! What a surprise! And people like surprises. Usually.”

“My big brother N likes dogs.”

“Well there you- go..?”

“Silly face.”

Cyn liked this human. Speaking of humans, Theodore finally came in and shot a look at Cyn.

“What was that look about? Aggravating human.”

She thought in her head. She wondered if she said that out loud.

“Greetings, my name is Theodore. The male tribute of district 1.”

She probably didn’t say that out loud then.

“Oh, there’s no need for that! It’s very nice to meet you, Theodore. We were thinking of purples for the color scheme. And I got a request for bows?”

“I’ll wear whatever looks great.”

“Very good then!”

Cyn gave Theodore a

“Glare. Why were you so late?”

“Men get busy too, y’know.”

“Busy enough to miss this?”

“I slept in!”

“You were awake enough to ask about the solver!- instant regret.”

“WHAT THE HECK IS THE-“

Maria cut in, she hated seeing people fight.

“Whoa whoa calm down! It’s okay to be a bit late… even if we have deadlines… it’s nothing to get aggressive about! How about we save that for the arena, hm?”

She was trying to be friendly and hoped she was coming off as such. Theodore wouldn’t take his eyes off Cyn’s hands now. How did she do that? It’s called the solver apparently. And she just confirmed it was real. How would he prove that?

“I’m fine with waiting. Patience, rug boy. Snicker.”

She thought calling him that was funny until she realized he didn’t know about the rug fiber dolls.

“RUG BOY? I-I mean. Of course. We can pipe down. Right, Cyn?”

He said Cyn’s name as if he were seething venom from his teeth.

“Reluctant nod. Yes, Theodore.”

She said Theodore’s name with the energy she used in the train before she broke the window.

“Ok! Good! Now who likes… uh… jewels! Who likes jewels?”

Maria tried to change the subject before the tension got too much and everything snapped.

Cyn paid little attention now though. She was too busy wondering. Theodore was definitely hiding something. And Cyn was determined to find out what.

Chapter Text

The time had finally come. The day of the chariot parades.

Cyn was wearing a long silky dress of a dark purple color with fluffy lavender trim. It had a secondary color of gold, which was also the color garnishing her bow, adorned with lace. The dress was shiny and silky, and it had to be the softest thing she had ever worn. It reminded her of the time she hid in Louisa’s bed covers and Tessa had to hide her and fix the sheets before they both got in trouble.

Tessa. Tessa would see her on the screens. It was enraging to think of what Louisa could be punishing Tessa with for something that wasn’t her fault.

She couldn’t wait to end Louisa. It was almost painful to wait.

She wanted nothing more than to charge at Louisa for everything she’d done. Charge at her and pin her to the wa- well. The wall is overused. The ceiling. She would throw her and crush her into the ceiling with her solver and slowly cut her open with her tendril, making her death so slow and excruciating she would surely die from shock and stress alone. The blood would flow down to the floor, like rain nourishing the flowers that would be her, N, and Tessa’s future. She would watch Louisa’s organs ha-

“Cynthia.”

Cyn’s thoughts were interrupted by a voice coming from her right. It was Theodore’s bossy tone.

“What do you want.”

She didn’t like when her thoughts were interrupted. She was just getting to the good part of Louisa’s murder, where she-

“Stop clawing at your skirt. It’ll tear.”

She didn’t realize how wrapped up she was in her loathing that she almost tore up the masterpiece she was to wear in front of the crowds.

“Don’t tell me what to do, Theodore. Giggle.”

She couldn’t help but find the menacing tone she uses every time she says “Theodore” amusing. If only Theo agreed.

Maria then came over with another human. Who was this now?

“Hello, tributes. My name is Janelle. I am the stylist originally assigned to Theodore. I apologize for my absence, I had an… emergency.”

“Greetings, Janelle. I am-“

“What emergency? Grinning, smugly.”

Cyn interrupted gladly, these fancy schmancy humans got on her nonexistent nerves.

“My, how rude! Weren’t you programmed with any manners?”

Cyn just grinned even more, not hesitating to show off her many sharp teeth. Theodore was… uncomfortable, to say the least.

“Oh. My many apologies, fair human. But for what emergency should you miss important hunger games activities?”

“Oh my word! Have her disassembled at ONCE!”

Cyn froze. It reminded her of G. And every other drone who was disassembled for the mildest mistakes. She did have backups, but she knew how quickly humans gave up on her kind.

She knew from experience. And it wouldn’t happen again.

Her visor switched off. Tendrils slowly protruded from her back, slowly and subtly. You would have to be behind her, or next to her and paying attention to notice them at the moment. The solver appeared in her hand as she prepared to use it. Before she could do anything, Maria put her hand on Janelle’s shoulder.

“Now Janelle, there aren’t any tributes to replace her. It would be a hassle to get a new one by now, and we can’t keep the audience waiting, right?”

“…I suppose. She’s not likely to make it in the games anyway. Just look at her small, breakable, unstable frame. She hardly stands a chance!”

Cyn immediately retracted all her abilities and put an innocent smile back on her face. Of course, she couldn’t use her abilities till later! She needed this for the big reveal.

She had thought she heard a faint noise coming from her right. Like the sound of a recording being taken. She didn’t have enough time to think about it however, when Maria spoke to her.

“Remember, act like you and Theodore are acquaintances. You don’t have to be friends, just don’t hate eachother in front of the audience.”

Cyn blinked in response.

“Oh and remember to smile! Got that?”

Cyn immediately smiled her signature, empty eyed, toothy smile.

“Silliness present. Like this? Smiley face.”

“Uhhh… maybe no teeth. and add some life to your eyes.”

“Teehee, I was joking.”

She then smiled a more innocent looking smile, almost polar opposite to the vibes of the first one.

“Smiley face!”

“Oh, good! That’s perfect, just do that.”

Theodore and Cyn were led into a silver and gold chariot pulled by two majestic white steeds, with their hooves painted royal purple and their manes dyed a holy gold. They looked identical, and empty. Cyn could recognize emptiness anywhere, being so accustomed to it. She saw their hunger for freedom.

“One day it will end. It will all end.”

She thought to the horses, and it was as if they heard her thoughts. They immediately looked relieved… though definitely uncomfortable.

“Are you going to stop creepily staring at the horses like that? The chariot’s about to move.”

Theodore interrupted her thoughts yet again with his annoying voice. She immediately propped herself up.

“I wasn’t staring at them. I was. Admiring. Them.”

“Yeah, right.”

She wanted to rip that irritating boy in half and throw a piece to each side of the audience. Just then the chariot began to move. Cyn almost lost her balance and ended up grabbing the front of the chariot for support. She held the front with one hand and used her other to wave to the crowds as she moved forward. She enjoyed the amount of attention she was getting. Finally someone paid attention to her in a way that wasnt ‘ew, creepy’!

Theodore kept his distance from her. He smiled and waved, completely ignoring her. It was like she didn’t exist to him.

She did not like this. She may have been used to being ignored, but she didn’t like it anyway. At least the crowd had their attention on her. Though it was quite loud, to her disliking.

Eventually they got to the end of the parade. Her legs were tired and her arm hurt from waving so much. Despite the positive attention, crowds weren’t something she was used to or fond of. The second she stumbled off the chariot she toppled to the ground.

“Exhausteeeeddd. Heehee. That was fun. But so. Tiredddd.”

She did not want to move. Her living quarters may have been the easiest to access, but she didn’t care. She would sleep on this floor.

“Can you move? We need to get to the training center, you know.

“Nooooooo.”

Cyn could be defiant without dying now! That’s nice.

“Cynthia, it’s literally a 5 minute walk.”

“No, no, noooo.”

“Just move! What were you even made for? You’re a robot, you don’t get tired.”

She wanted to correct him. That drones do indeed, get tired and that humans are selfish, lazy, cruel asses. But she didn’t feel like it. She will sleep on. This. Floor.

“No.”

“Can’t you say something besides no!?”

“….no.”

Theodore sighed. He shoved her with his foot, trying to get a reaction. He did indeed, get one. But it wasn’t what he was expecting.

“…did you just lick my shoe??”

“No. Absolute lie.”

“Oh my-“

Theodore took a deep breath in.

“If you don’t move you’ll miss the assessments guess.”

Cyn immediately got up and rushed to the training center as fast as she could. This was her big moment!