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Skizz always slept well on the train ride to District 5, most of his fellow Capitol Escorts didn’t understand how he could do it, but in so many years doing his job he had learned that it would be his last quiet night for a good few weeks, so he might as well take advantage of it.
When the train pulled into District 5 with the daylight, Skizz might have been the only person in the whole entourage working on the Games that was well rested. He got off and started the short walk to reach the Victor’s Village, knowing that Impulse had coffee and breakfast ready for him in his home.
Skizz had been friends with the mentor of District 5 since the beginning of his career, twenty three years prior. Impulse had already been mentoring for a good few years, having won nine years before Skizz got the job.
He had struggled a fair bit integrating because he had been the first sign for the old guard of the Capitol Escorts that they would soon be replaced by younger workers.
Impulse, who had been dealing with the insanity of the Life Games industry for eleven years already at that point gladly took him under his wing. Partially because he was just a kind guy but also to ensure the safety and best survival odds of the District 5 kids, making sure the whole team worked cohesively and as hard as they could.
That initial strategic kindness had quickly led to friendship, which had only grown stronger throughout the years, when they had both started to engage with the Rebellion, when Skizz had gotten married and Impulse had been his best man and later the godfather to his children. Impulse was a beloved guest at his home, treated like family by everyone, because he was no less than family. But Skizz knew that Impulse was incredibly jealous that he could have that life, with a family and loved ones that weren’t in danger constantly.
He soon made it to the front door to the fancy Victor’s house. Skizz could smell the candy and chocolates in the air, thick with sugar and caramel when he knocked at the door. From the other side he quickly heard several locking mechanisms being undone, one of Impulse’s many customized security measures he had installed in the years. When the door finally opened Skizz was enveloped in a bear hug that lasted several seconds before either of them let go.
“On time as always, coffee is already hot in the pot! How are you buddy, was the train ride okay?”
“Dippledop! I’m good, train was the same as usual. How ‘bout you, how are ya holding up. Is the candy ready? I’ll have to sleep in the bathtub if I don’t bring home some of the good stuff and you know it!”
They made their way to the kitchen where the ready wrapped packets of candy monopolized most of the table, save for a small corner ready with two mugs and pastries served on overly fancy plates.
“How is she doing? Copying well with the lack of candy of the past few weeks? And the kids are all right, still working hard in school and getting good grades?”
“She is fine, I have not been though, she has been talking my head off with whatever about the pastries from the bakery down the street being subpar. The kids at this point are just waiting for the summer holidays to come around…”
Banter, chatter and catch-up ensued for several hours, until they were verging on being late for the Reaping, so they hurried off to the Justice building.