Dash of Thunder

Cambric BatisteVictor of the 60th Hunger Games

[cambricthevictor]

dorian-hawthorne‌:

Dorian had thought about heading up to the Third floor to pick up Rosie and go to the viewing rooms of the Training Center to chat up some sponsors, though he wasn’t really making quick work of that; he never liked talking with Sponsors. But it was required of him to help those kids any way he could. But on his way down one of the corridors, Cambric had stopped him. He meant to talk with him sooner, but the hustle and bustle of The Games overshadowed their chances to talk. Dorian offered a small nod of his head toward Cambric in greeting.

“Sure, yeah,” he replied, slowing his steps so Cambric would fall in step with him, “haven’t had a whole lot of chances to get out and walk around.” It was hard to have a private conversation in the Tower. Slipping his phone from his pocket, he sent Valor a quick message, letting him know he was on a walk with Cambric. 

“There’s not a lot of chances give,” Cambric muttered in agreement because they both knew the Capitol would keep them busy. Perhaps, that was their secret. They kept them so busy with the Games and then just living people didn’t have a chance to realize how their lives truly were. Did any of them live in relative comfort? Everyone thought they did, the reward for surviving the games, but Cambric hadn’t had much security since. Now there wasn’t much left to lose so it didn’t matter. He had everything to gain instead.

Cambric was quiet a moment as he looked out at the lights of the Capitol. “Do you think it’ll ever change?” He asked softly once they were out of ear shot. Cambric wanted to be part of something that changed it, but you never knew. Here they were 79 years later and still fighting the same battle. Next year? Next year there would be a quell. Another quell. “I want it to change.”

[cambricthevictor]

“Hey,” Cambric said quietly as his friend walked by. Since they had arrived, Cambric had been looking to talk to Dorian, but the right opportunity had come about. What they needed to talk about wasn’t something you could just talk about anywhere. Right now, it was a perfect time. Everyone was fussing over the new crop of tributes, the newest Victors, and what everyone was wearing. Who would be looking for a couple of “older” victors if they vanished for a couple minutes.

Cambric looked at his friend a moment, weighing his words. “Fancy a quick walk for some fresh air?” In the past, Dorian had told him of his displeasure with the way things were and Cambric had agreed. It was time to see just how much they agreed on their like thoughts.

@dorian-hawthorne​

[cambricthevictor]

birchpembrooke‌:

“How bout this, Cambric: a whole ten minutes out on the streets of the Capitol. However, you must buy me the strongest drink you can afterwards,” he jested. Birch shook his head at Cambric, chuckling a little. “I think you underestimate the crowds. They’re a lot more powerful than you think. I don’t even think you could fend them all off for me.” He nodded, knowing the feeling. Of course, his feelings for Oakley had come up after he knew that he had an obligation to marry Lael and protect his family. 

Birch placed his hand over his chest. “I would be the best caretakers of your dogs, Cambric. They could meet Naiah and George and they would all be the best of friends: horses and dogs together forever.” He really wanted to get a dog, but having his horses was already taking up a lot of his love. Maybe someday he would find a dog that would come with him and Naiah on rides through the hills. 

“I’m not the bachelor anymore. I’m taken now, engaged even,” he said, holding up his hand to show his own small silver band that he wore to show that he was engaged. “I didn’t even know they made rings for men, but those producers said it would be good to show that I was totally committed.” He sighed, rubbing his hand against his neck and picking at the implant there. “Some of the girls were fun, we became friends, more than dating each other. Hanging out with Lael was fun. But most of the girls really wanted to be picked and it was exhausting. And even though, Lael is one of my closest friends now, I don’t really want to marry her. But, unless something happens where Snow doesn’t care anymore, I’m kind of stuck.”

“I’ll even buy you two drinks, how’s that?” He joked with a laugh. Cambric was sure he had plenty of alcohol up in the District Eight suite, but he hadn’t been that much into it lately. His friends back home teased him that he was getting too old, but perhaps that was the truth. Drinking didn’t seem quite as much fun as it had when he was younger, or perhaps, he was getting better at dealing with his demons.

Cambric grinned at Birch. “They’d like to have horse friends I am sure!” His dogs were certainly big enough and energetic enough to keep up with the larger animals. It made him sad he couldn’t go visit Birch and see his horses. “Well, if I ever get to go on another Victory Tour, I’ll bring them and you can adopt them for a day.”

He frowned because he wanted his friend to be happy. Marriage wasn’t something to be played at. “Sounds like you could have done worse, but...” Cambric sighed. He was sure Lael was lovely, but Birch should get to be happy too. “So, I have to ask... Is there someone you want to marry?”

[cambricthevictor]

glitterrosseau‌:

Glitter shrugged slightly when Cambric spoke.  Memories of Silver had been plaguing her for awhile.  Watching the pair from District Two would only make it worse.  She sighed.  “Well, speaking as someone who did it and volunteered for it….you can’t let someone else go if you’re selected,” she told him.  “The pressure is so intense and if you don’t do what is expected then you shame yourself and your family.”  She knew how shameful it was in District One.  Hadn’t Valor experienced that first hand?

“I wasn’t supposed to go in during 61,” she told him.  “Originally I planned for volunteer for 62 when I was eighteen.”  She sighed.  “The Academy picked me and my boyfriend for 61 and we had to deal with it.  Neither one of us could back out without bringing shame to us, our families, and our district.”

“Is it really that big of a deal?” Cambric asked because he was curious. It was a foreign concept for him. In District Eight, you spent the year wishing your family or yourself wasn’t drawn for the Hunger Games. He couldn’t fathom wanting to volunteer willingly for it. “I know what everyone says...” He wasn’t going to claim to understand something he didn’t. “It’s such a big decision to make as a teenager. Then again, my stupid self would have thought I could do it too.” Cambric wasn’t sure if it was luck or skill that had gotten him out of that arena.

Cambric found listening to Glitter’s words. He wished it didn’t have to be like that for any of the teenagers in the District. Not that he was going to point that out to Glitter, but it was true. “Well, I hope things go okay for them. There’s nothing like losing someone you love. It’s a lot of pressure and responsibility to win for yourself but to try and put your all in it for someone else...” The pain was horrible if you failed.

[cambricthevictor]

glitterrosseau‌:

Glitter rolled her eyes when Cambric approached.  She knew protesting about the nickname wouldn’t do any good, so she shrugged and listened to what he said.  “Even if that’s true, it’s just an assessment tool,” Glitter told him.  She knew that no tribute from an outer district would master a weapon in a few days, but maybe they’d learn how to not stab themselves before the Gamemakers could score them.

When he asked about District Two, Glitter sighed.  “They probably are,” she admitted.  “From what I’ve seen they remind me of me and my district partner.”  They’d dated for years and tried to keep things professional going into the arena.  She didn’t want to be seen as a lovebird and told Silver as much, but it was hard to keep your distance.

Cambric sighed. He knew the pain of going into the games with someone you cared about. Not that he was willing to go as far as to say he had loved his ally, they had only known each other for two weeks, but he liked to think they would have loved each other had things been different. When he had nightmares, which still happened occasionally, it was always her face he saw.

“I don’t know why people do that to themselves or the one they care about.” He got the reasons why, but in hindsight he wasn’t sure it was worth it. “I think it’s worse for the people the volunteered because they probably didn’t have to. They could have let someone else do it.” In Districts like One and Two, there were always people that wanted to go into the games. “Could have had their whole lives, you know? So why?” He didn’t get it. No one volunteered in District Eight and he doubted most wouldn’t even volunteer to go with or in place of a loved one.

[cambricthevictor]

birchpembrooke‌:

Birch wished he could do whatever he wanted. He wished there weren’t’ people looking at him every moment of the day waiting for him t screw up so he could be front page news. He wished if he stepped out of line his family wouldn’t be in danger. But, he knew Cambric didn’t mean it that way. And he laughed at the statement. “You’ll have to get in line Cambric. There were twenty-one women who more or less have the same thoughts as you. But, I will share some ice cream with you,” he added with a laugh. 

He was very glad there were not flocks of women around him. That was never his scene, even as a new Victor many years ago. “Why do you think I make sure I stay in this Tower? I don’t think I can deal with flocks of women. But, if you are looking for a date, I can endure for a couple of minutes,” he replied, cocking an eyebrow. 

“Maybe I should have wounded your pride years ago. I’ve always wanted dogs,” he joked. “You’re so very dramatic, Cam. You would have made a better bachelor than I ever could.” 

Cambric had to laugh at their banter. It was a nice change from the hushed conversation and serious overtones in District Eight. “Only a couple a minutes?” He made a face. “I thought our friendship was worth at least five minutes of your time.” Cambric joked with a laugh. “Besides if you ask nicely, perhaps I’ll even fight off the flock of women. You know what they say, you want what you can’t have and you’re already spoken for.”

He made a face in Birch’s direction. “Well, least I know my dogs will be well taken care of.” That was all he could ask for if one day something did happen to him. Not that he was planning on going somewhere anytime soon. “Yes, but I don’t want to be the bachelor. It’s a gig you can keep to yourself. I imagine it wasn’t very fun? I mean do you even want to marry that girl?”

[cambricthevictor]

birchpembrooke‌:

The day at the Training Centre hadn’t been a total bust. One of his tributes had come to him on their own asking a few questions of advice before scurrying off to train with Ves and Sable. He didn’t blame him, particularly because he was already at the least entertaining station: knot-tying. So, he spent the last few hours of the day helping any tribute that had stumbled to his corner of the Training Centre. He was particularly good at tying slipknots and lassos, while also trying out some new ones that were at the back of the instruction booklet. 

He called it a day before most of the other mentors, gathering himself up off the floor and heading to the exit. Birch saw Cambric approaching and prepared himself for the onslaught of teasing he was inevitably going to get. He was sure Cambric had been holding on to this for months and months. 

“Cambric, I am an engaged man, I couldn’t possibly leave Lael for you even if you were in love with me,” he teased back, smiling. There were only a few people who could get away with teasing him about the Birchelor. The top of that list was his sister June and just under it was Cambric. “I cannot deny your cuteness, but I can deny you.”

He laughed, but also shuddered at the idea of a group of girls coming to surround him. “I don’t think those girls could heckle as well as you, Cambric. You’ve got that down to a science. Sadly, those puppy-dog eyes could use some work.”

Cambric had to chuckle at Birch’s statement. “Well, technically you can do anything you want.” He pointed out because it was a truth. “Come on now man, you’re breaking my heart. I am going to have to go sit in the corner with a thing of ice cream and cry my heart out.” He made a frowning face at Birch. “You’re going to have to live with that knowledge for the rest of your life. My death due to a broken heart will truly be on your shoulders.”

He shrugged his shoulder. “Truth, I give you that. You however underestimate my teaching abilities. I could teach them a thing or two.” Or just pay them enough. Cambric was good at it, but he had found most women could be experts at it if they were motivated to do so. “You’re the hottest commodity in the Capitol. You should have flocks of women around you. Then you can send the second best option my way.”

Cambric put his hand over his heart. “First you tear my heart out and now you wound my pride. Whatever should I do?” He gently fell into the wall. “You’ve killed me. You better leave me here to die. Make sure you take care of my dogs, got it?”

[cambricthevictor]

Cambric had to grin as he saw his friend getting ready to leave the training center. Surely he needed to be a good friend and pass the love along via teasing. That was what friends did for each other! As a good friend, Cambric had watched every episode of the Birchelor and taken notes.

“If I confessed to you I was madly in love with you, would you agree to marry me?” Cambric asked with a laugh as he walked up to his friend. “I have been so lonely just sitting in my house pining away for our latest celebrity. I am cute, you can’t deny it?”

“Pretty please?” Cambric joked as he gave Birch his best puppy dog eyes look. “You know since the whole crowd of girls I was going to pay to come heckle you backed out at the last moment.”

@birchpembrooke​

[cambricthevictor]

"Hey there Sparkles,” Cambric said with a laugh as he dropped into the open seat next to Glitter. The kids were just getting starting with their training, so there wasn’t much for them to do, yet. You know why they got the ominous speech about how only one of them would make it out a live. “You know, I think these training sessions are just for us not them. I can’t say I ever learned anything that was useful in my games.” The Cave arena hadn’t been too friendly on most fronts.

“So... What do you think of District Two?” Cambric knew as someone from One, she had her opinion. Careers always stuck together or at least scoped out the competition. “Are they an item? They aren’t acting like it, but...” There were glances here and there and well, Cambric knew a thing or two about going in with someone you care about. He had only known the girl from One a week, but it had been enough to tear at his heart strings. “This is the season for couples, from what I am hearing.”

@glitterrosseau​

[cambricthevictor]

marinazale‌:

Laughing lightly, Marina shrugged her shoulder.  “Well if it’s helpful advice I don’t mind being compared to a cookie,” she joked.  It wasn’t something anyone had ever said before, but she could sort of understand where he was coming from.  It brought a smile to her features.  “But the open mind thing is important.”

She shifted the baby sling as Waverly stirred before pressing a kiss to the top of her daughter’s head.  “You might be right about that.  Disappointment from high hopes is not an easy thing to deal with.”  Glancing down at her daughter, she smiled.  “If you want to hold her you can.”

“Life will be whatever it’s supposed to be, I guess.” Cambric told her with a shrug of his shoulders. Part of him had long hopped off the train of wanting certain things. Instead, he embraced what he had and didn’t worry about the rest. On bad days he wished he had a family, kids, the dream so to say, but he didn’t. There wasn’t any indication things would change so Cambric didn’t fuss over it. Focus one what you could change and who knew, maybe one day he would get lucky.

He nodded. “Course!” It had been forever since he had a baby to spoil, but Cambric wasn’t worried. “Don’t worry, I have plenty of practice as the oldest of four. I was once the expert at changing diapers.” He joked with a laugh but it was true. His parents had always worked and left him in charge of his siblings. “I am also a pro at braiding hair, but I don’t think you’ll have use for that skill for a few more years thankfully.”

[cambricthevictor]

oakleydressel‌:

Honestly, Oakley didn’t know how to talk about the Birch situation with anyone.  She didn’t want to do something to compromise his family’s safety or the friendship they had.  It didn’t really matter how much it hurt her to pretend he was nothing more than a friend.  At the end of the day, that was exactly what he had to be for her.

“I like him more than I’ve ever liked anyone in my life,” Oakley admitted without much hesitation.  She really did.  While she’d had boyfriends before her Games, she had never felt anything so deeply or cared about someone as much as she cared for Birch.

Sighing, Oakley ran her fingers through her hair.  “He’s engaged, Cam.  I can’t….I can’t dump that on him.”

Cambric frowned at Oakley’s admission. It did make things rather complicated because people didn’t just get engaged for no reason. Nor would he want to suggest sabotage, because that wasn’t cool. Even if Oakley deserved the happiness she apparently found in this boy.

“Technically you could,” he pointed out with a nod of his head. “I mean there’s no harm in getting it out and letting him choose.” Sure it could be bad but Cambric had always been one that didn’t like living regrets. In the long run, no was better than wondering what if. “But I know you, I know you’re not going to do it.” She was far to kind and good for that sort of thing.

“Want to dump it all on me instead? I do give good hugs.”

[cambricthevictor]

oakleydressel‌:

“That sounds more like a you problem than a dog problem,” Oakley laughed with a shake of her head.  If Cam was willing to cave that easily then they’d exploit it for as long as possible.  There was absolutely no denying that.

She doubted that luck would be on District Eight’s side this year, but there was nothing she could do about it.  All she could do was not get her hopes up.  Then it would hurt less when the tributes started dying.  Ten years ago Oakley had been in their shoes as a tribute and she was already so tired of burying kids.  She didn’t know how Cam had been doing it for nearly twice as long.  “I think that sounds like a plan.  If nothing else we can just work on getting them to realize they’ve got a shot.”

However, Cambric changed the topic towards Oakley’s boy trouble again and she felt her heart lurch.  It hurt to think about Birch.  He smiled at her and she always felt like she was spinning, but she cared too much about him to risk doing something that would hurt his family.  “I know you’re good at big brothering me,” Oakley told him.  “and I appreciate it.  Keeping ice cream on hand might not be a bad idea.  I’m….conflicted about this whole mess and just…eating my feelings doesn’t sound all bad.”

“Everyone has a shot,” but not everyone got that. Cambric hoped it would be different, but they would see. “Until then, we’ll continue being the awesome team we are and do our best.” He had learned a long time ago that was all you could do. Well, that and eat some ice cream and tell yourself maybe next year. If Cambric was to find a shooting star he would wish things would finally change in Panem.

He nodded. “Well, you know I have been a big brother like you know.. My entire life.” Cambric told her with a laugh but it wasn’t far off. His sister had been born only a few years after him.

For a moment, Cambric looked at Oakley. “While I totally support that decision, is that the best answer?” Food helped but it didn’t solve anything in the long run. “I hear bottling things up for a while doesn’t help and can’t solve problems if you ignore them. I hear there is a solution to everything if you can find it.” However, Cambric wanted to do something to make life a little easier for Oakley. “Why conflicted? Do you really like this guy? Like really like him?”

[cambricthevictor]

marinazale‌:

Marina let Cambric talk.  She understood exactly where he was coming from.  Two years ago she felt exactly the same.  Kids deserved to be safe and it would always be a non-issue because she hadn’t been on a date in years, but then things changed with Jackson.  It was unexpected, something that caught Marina off-guard, but she was still glad it happened.

“As long as you’re happy,” Marina told him firmly.  She’d been in his shoes, convinced she was happy and not realizing what she was missing.  Now she wouldn’t have traded Jackson or Waverly for anything in the world.  She would die for either one of them.

She smiled and Waverly stretched a tiny arm out of the sling, so Marina let her daughter hold her finger.  “Just don’t close yourself off to possibilities.  They can arise when you least expect it.”

“Happy enough,” he assured her. It wasn’t like he was unhappy. Sure the games were rough and complicated things, but it could be worse. He couldn’t be alive to have the worries in his head. “Least the air here is crystal clear.” Cambric joked with a laugh. However, it was better than the pollution of District Eight and it was the one thing the Capitol had going for it.

Cambric shrugged. “Now you sound like one of those silly cookies they pass out with food once in a while.” Now that he thought about it, Cambric couldn’t even recall what the last one said. Something like beware of eating too many cookies or something of that sort. “Right, mind open kind of thing.”

He had to laugh though. “But you know if you have high hopes and zero expectations you’ll never be disappointed.” Again, Cambric shrugged. “We’ll see what the future holds, but right now we have this cutie to focus on.”

[cambricthevictor]

marinazale‌:

Marina smiled as she listened to Cambric speak.  He seemed to really love his dogs and she could understand why.  Animals were great.  She loved them.  But they couldn’t compare to her actual baby.  “You know, I used to think I’d never have kids either, but now look at me,” she chuckled.  “Life throws us curve balls in the most unexpected ways.”

Honestly, the idea of having a baby seemed impossible even a year and a half ago, yet there was Waverly beginning to doze against her chest.  It was a miracle and she was thankful everyday for this angel coming into her life.  “Would you want kids if the opportunity arose?” Marina asked, genuinely curious if he just lost faith or if he didn’t want them for some specific reason.

Cambric was quiet a long moment while they walked. It wasn’t like Marina’s question was something new, people had asked him that quite a bit, especially every year he got closer to being forty. Hell, Cambric had asked himself that very question from time to time, but it didn’t mean it was easy to answer.

“You know, for a long time I swore I would never have them. Didn’t waiver from that thought either.” This world wasn’t exactly something he would want to bring kids into. Things weren’t that great in District Eight. Sure his kid would never go without, being born to a Victor, but that didn’t mean they would be safe from other troubles. “Kids deserve to grow up in a place they can be kids. In order to do that, you need to be safe and...” Well, he didn’t have to finish the sentence. It was too risky to point out in the Capitol that they weren’t safe. They wouldn’t be until things changed. Kids were going to keep getting reaped and killed.

Cambric shrugged. “Not that it matters, my dating calendar is pretty empty these days.” Sure he could fill it with trysts with Capitol women or whatever, but he didn’t want to do that. He was getting too old for those games. “It’s okay though, I don’t need all that to be happy. I am pretty content with the way my life is.” For the most part anyhow.

[cambricthevictor]

oakleydressel‌:

Oakley laughed.  “I think you’re making me glad Ev’s a service dog and had a lot of the basic obedience training out of the way before I got her.”  Honestly she couldn’t have handled something as wild and rambunctious as Cambric’s dogs.  They were great, but not something Oakley could handle.

“You’d think, but it also feels like each year we get away from a career winning the more likely it is that a career will win this games.  Everyone in Eight knows the odds aren’t in our favor.  I mean, hell, I didn’t exactly have the most stunning victory.”

“Oh, they can behave, just not for me,” Cambric admitted with a laugh. For the Avoxes that took care of them, the dogs were as good as gold. For Cambric, on the other hand, they didn’t listen worth a damn. “It’s like they know they can get away with it with me. Just takes on sad I love you look and BAM! I cave.” To him, this was amusing, but not so great when you were trying to train two very large, very energetic dogs. “Hence why they need a play date. Perhaps the good behavior will rub off on them.”

Cambric frowned at her words. “Well, let’s pray that Lady Luck looks in District Eight’s direction this year, right?” It wasn’t likely, but Cambric knew he had to be optimistic. “I mean perhaps lightning will strike twice. Everyone wrote off that girl from Nine last year, because she really didn’t say or do anything, and then she pulled a nine in training! Then she won...” Cambric was still kind of surprised himself. “I say we work on training. Building their confidence. Teaching them what we can and maybe it’ll inspire them. If it doesn’t, I’ll bribe them with ice cream. You and I are a team and we don’t give up.”

He looked at Oakley a moment. “Speaking of which, do I need to bribe you with ice cream? Should I keep it on hand? We’ve already established I suck at boy trouble, but I can still totally kill big brother duty. I’m only slightly rusty like these old joints of mine.” He joked hoping to make Oakley laugh a bit.

[cambricthevictor]

marinazale‌:

She laughed but relented, easily giving over the bag while she adjusted the sling holding her most precious cargo.  “I don’t think any butt kicking is necessary, but I do appreciate the help.”  It felt a little weird being there with daughter.  She still couldn’t believe she actually had a daughter.

“Nope, it wasn’t bad.  This little one got a little cranky on the train, but I think it’s because we’re getting close to nap time for her.”

“It’s nice to feel useful, to be honest.” These days there wasn’t much for Cambric to do. Even when the Games came around he had something to do for a few days and then, typically, not much. District Eight hadn’t had a tribute last more than a day in a long time outside Nadya a couple years ago. It was a little disappointing, but he wasn’t sure there could be anything done to change that.

He nodded. “I get a little cranky too when I need a nap.” He joked with a laugh. “Just wait, gets worse when they get older. Or at least that’s how it went with the dogs. Everyone was like ‘oh don’t worry once they’re not pups anymore’ and they’re more trouble now. Terrible twos in dog form.” It really was a lot to keep up with sometimes. “But I love them anyhow. Closest to kids as I’ll ever get.”

[cambricthevictor]

oakleydressel‌:

Cambric wasn’t wrong.  The Games was just about the best possible excuse for having ice cream.  She’d never question that logic.  Especially when she knew this was going to be an incredibly hard month for her.  If anything else, the last six months had reinforced what she already believed.  She was screwed.

“You’ve got more faith than I do,” she told him.  Maybe it was wrong to think like that, but it felt like her future was impossibly out of reach.  Even if things were different and the circumstances weren’t what they are, there was still no guarantee that she could have what she wanted.  “Oh really?  Ev’s stopped chewing on shoes and stuff awhile ago.”  But knowing the tributes were still hiding…it wasn’t a good sign.  “Maybe they would.  At least we can try.  We have to give them an an opening if they want it.”

“Eh, what’s life without a little faith if not boring?” At least that’s what Cambric told himself because it beat the opposite. If you weren’t hopeful you were fearful and lonely, none of which he would ever wish on anyone. He had to laugh though as the conversation turned to their fur babies. “It’s like they have a competition to see who can get in the most trouble. One likes to chew shoes and the other just is wild.” Dogs really were worse than kids sometimes.

At the mention of their tributes, Cambric sighed. “All we can do. I was hoping one of them would have a little more fighting spirit this year.” It was hard, Cambric knew it, but it was better than not trying at all. Not trying meant certain death and probably quickly again. “I mean the non-Career Districts have won a few years in a row now, was hoping that would inspire them, you know?”