Work Text:
False bent down to pick up a feather from the dry floor when she heard her name being called out.
“The District 10 Tribute for these 149th Life Games is: False!”
It was terrible timing, really. she clutched the beautiful feather that she’d just picked up, shocked, scared and unable to stand up just yet. But the Peacekeepers didn’t care and once they had located her, they picked her up immediately and started dragging her violently to the stage, carrying her by the arms as her legs dragged on the floor. False kicked and screamed so that they would let her go, saying she could walk to the podium, she just needed a moment to collect herself. She squirmed all the way through, facing the crowd until the Peacekeepers dropped her on the stage without any regard. She sat there for a moment, shaken and in pain, trying desperately to catch her breath when a hand appeared in front of her face. Joey, the Capitol Escort for District 10, stood beside her waiting to help once she could get up, but False refused it and stood up on her own. She took a moment to look around, staring daggers at the Peacekeepers who had taken her and as soon as Joey tried to speak up to introduce her, she turned around and stormed into the Justice Building.
“Oh gosh, well then, an applause for our fierce new Tribute, False! Representing District 10!“
He hurried in after her, calling out as soon as the doors of the Justice Building closed behind him. Joey quickly realised that he would not have to search much, because he found False crouched down behind one of the decorative columns, crying softly.
“I’m sorry about that. I don’t know why they were so aggressive. Are you hurt?”
False looked up, eyes red and full of rage looking into Joey’s artfully decorated eyes, shining gold.
“I just wanted the feather. I wasn’t trying to run.“
“It’s a beautiful feather, what bird is it from?”
He crouched down in front of her, slowly putting his hand out to touch the feather, like you would approach a wounded animal.
“Eagle. They are my favourite.”
“Oh wow, my favourites are parrots, so colorful and pretty.”
“Of course all you would care about is looks.”
“Ouch. Well why do you like eagles?”
“They are strong and fierce, free. No one tells them what to do or where to go. They fly high above it all.”