Work Text:
The air in District 12’s assigned room felt stuffy, despite the room being cool and ventilated, Ren felt the tension was tangible. Pearl was watching Cherrifire like a hawk, while the bubbly girl worked around Grian, who still looked just frozen in terror. If he didn’t get out of that room he’s go insane, so he got up, deciding he’d go check out the other Tributes. It was his job as an Escort after all.
“I’ll be back soon…“
He mumbled, but no one acknowledged him. So he left the room and walked back into the common room of the Beauty Centre. The area had filled up since they had arrived, mingling of Stylists, Prep Assistants, Mentors and Escorts was happening all around, mostly near the doors to the other District’s rooms. Ren recognised most of the faces around him, but he did not go up to any of them to talk, he really didn’t feel like he belonged there just yet. Instead he confidently walked into District 11’s room. He had seen their Escort out, talking to some of the others, but no sign of their Mentor. When he walked in, trying his best to look like he belonged, he saw Xisuma sat on the couch, much like he had been earlier, he was holding his head in his hands and did not seem to notice that Ren had come in. Finally Ren directed his attention to the Tribute. BigB, he remembered from the night before, he was smaller than he had imagined, he had looked strong and belligerent during his Reaping, a strong man. What he saw was a scared boy, so thin that he could count his ribs. He had defined muscles, but he looked malnourished not powerful. On his back, on top of his clearly visible back, were scars, like those of a whip. As he started to back out of the room, someone walked into them. Turning around he saw Blulowy, one of the Prep Assistants, clearly flustered that she had hit him. They put her pale mint stained hands on Ren’s shoulder, swapping their positions, so that they could push him out of the door, before slamming the door back in his face, she only said a sentence.
“I know you are checking out the competition, he is a strong one, isn’t he? But I have work to do. So much work! Bye, bye.“
And Ren was in the lobby once more. What had Blulowy meant by by saying BigB was strong, surely he was bigger than Grian, but his Tribute was from District 12, of course he would be weaker. Moved on to the next door to his right; District 10, False had also trashed and fought during her reaping. She wasn’t too old but she had to be strong. Instead what he found was another skeletal figure, thin skin over tight muscles and bones, blonde frail hair hanging limply on her scalp as she faced away from the door. He backed out without saying a word. District 9’s door was locked from the inside, but their tribute was a little kid, so Ren wasn’t too worried about him. Instead he wanted to see District 8’s Volunteer. She had looked rather well fed, compared to the other tributes, but when Ren saw them, it was clear that had been an illusion from the clothes she had been wearing. It was clear that she also hadn’t been eating enough now that he saw them wearing the thin Capitol issued gown. In that room he wasn’t able to just slip in and out, instead once he was in he was approached by Scott, District 8’s Mentor.
“Hi Ren, how are you?“
“Hey dude! I’m good, just checking out the competition. How are you doing on this fine morning?“
Scott and Ren knew each other from all the Capitol events they both attended, but Scott knew everyone in Panem probably, so it wasn’t surprising. Both of them acted out a nonchalance and comfort that wasn’t real and both knew it. But they kept the show up for sake of simplicity, so their voices stayed overly cheery for the grim situation.
“Same old, just waiting around for the Stylists to do their magic. Look I wanted to ask you something.“
“What’s up? Anything I can help you with?“
Scott’s voice got quieter, as if he didn’t want Cleo to hear.
“I know it’s your first year and all, so I don’t want to drag you into unnecessary drama. You’ll have time to get involved in that on your own.“
“Ouch- I know I’m new, no need to point it out.“
“Yeah- Anyways… Last year I mentored Pearl, we got pretty close, how can you not when something like that happens. She hasn’t talked to me in months. I don’t know what happened, she just cut me out. I get it. Winning isn’t as great as they make it out to be. I just miss her, she was my friend… I guess- Can you just tell her I still care, that I’m here if she wants to talk. That I’m not mad or anything…“
“I- uh… Pearl doesn’t exactly like me… right now.“
“Heh. Didn’t expect her to… Still-“
“I’ll try.“
“Thank you, Ren.“
Scott looked genuinely grateful, but Ren worried what he was getting himself involved in. The last thing he needed was another reason for Pearl to dislike him. He slipped out of the room, determined to see the rest of the tributes before lunch.
“I’ll talk to you later… I guess. Bye!”
Ren made his way to the last door on that side of the room, District 7. He knew it was a 13 year old in there, so he prepared himself for a punch to the gut when he’d see the figure. It was harder than he’d imagined when he saw Sausage, the kid was tall for his age, but rail thin and his body was covered in bruises, black and blue, and small scars all over his legs and arms. It was all he could do not to run out of the room, keeping his composure to the best of his abilities. His hands shook slightly and he tried to remind himself that he wasn’t the victim there. He was the perpetrator. He wanted to get out, get some fresh air, but they were deep underground and he wasn’t allowed to leave the area. So instead he swallowed, walking into the next room. District 6, Ren feared what would be waiting behind the door and he had been right, another skeletal thin body, covered in bruises, sat on the metal gurney. Tango, when he saw him coming in, tilted his head in confusion but did not dare to question Ren’s dishevelled look out loud. Immediately he backed out of the room, making his way to the next. District 5, he needed to see, he knew the tribute was no older than 12 but he needed to see. Basically barging in he could not see Bdubs immediately, only able to notice him when he looked back at the couches on the left, where he sat hiding under a fuzzy blanket. He had been left alone and was clearly trying hard not to cry.
“Is everything okay?“
Bdubs looked up at Ren, wide eyed and fearful, he opened and closed his mouth but no words came out.
“Can I call someone? Are you okay?“
“I wanna go home.“
“I- Yeah… I’m sorry…“
Ren looked down, not knowing what to do. How could he help, when all those kids wanted to be home safe. They couldn’t get home and they certainly weren’t safe. Behind him the door opened again.
“Hey, buddy. Sorry I left you all alone, are you alright? Oh- Hi Ren.“
“Skizz! Hi… Sorry, I was just- He was alone and-“
“It’s fine. Less time they spend alone the better. How are you?“
“Fine I guess, just not what I expected.“
“It’s different when you are right here, isn’t it?“
“Yeah… I’ll go…“
“Be seeing you…“
Ren walked out of there, a bitter aftertaste left in his mouth. He hadn’t needed to see the boy’s body to know he was painfully small for his age. Walking by District 4’s room it was clear it was empty, so he went on to Discrict 3’s room. He was about to enter the next room but from inside he heard wailing, those of a kid, screaming for his dad. He froze, his hands hovering over the handle, but he couldn’t take it anymore, he turned back and ran out of the door, back to to the entrance. Once he was out, he felt the panic surge, his hands shook as the images of all those thin, emaciated and bruised bodies played in his mind. How could everybody treat it like it was normal. How was it normal, for those kids to be so starved, so deprived of everything they needed to grow. They wouldn’t grow up, eleven of them would be dead in a months time but they all already looked like skeletons.
“It’s a lot, seeing them.“
Ren whipped his head around to see Jevin, standing next to where he sat on the cold metal floor. He stared up at him wordlessly.
“They seem so powerful and violent in the arena, fuelled by fear and adrenaline, you forget that they are just scared kids.“
“I didn’t think- I didn’t know.“
Jev sat down next to him, crossing his legs and looking up at the ceiling.
“Yeah, they make sure of that, it is meant to be just Games. If the population realises they are children- I can only imagine.“
“I just- I’m part of the machine. I’m part of the killing machine… I’m doing this to them as much as anyone else.“
“The first step is realising, but from the inside it’s easier. Now that you do, you can help them.“