Sapphire Giada

District 1 Tribute of the 98th Annual Hunger Games - A Legacy in the making

[lavidaesccrta]

penelopehyde​:

Penny was hurt and angry, but more than that, she was frantic, searching high and low for her mother. She’d never known the woman past stories shared by her father, but by the gods she couldn’t deny wanting to know her. In her frantic mind, she didn’t know that her mother was dead, only that she wanted her, that she needed to find her and that despite the hours of searching, she hadn’t found her. She barely spared Sapphire a look. “Don’t got time, Giada.” She muttered, darting to another tree and peering up at the branches. She froze when she thought she heard something, gaze flickering to the lake some 20 yards away. “Ma?” 

-

Sapphire paused at the girl’s questioned call. Her eyes followed Penny’s to the lake and then back to Penny herself. “No one’s there, Red” She spoke as she moved closer. “Just a lake.” 

[wherethewillcwsgrcw]

@lavidaesccrta​

She’d gone south, disappearing from the bloodbath and just running. Her lungs burned, and her face had felt like it was going to explode. At some point, she’d crossed from fridgid cold cityscape, and into a pine forest. The trees were tall and thick, but at least she could hide. Slow down. And she had, making her home high in one of the trees and staying there. It’d only been when a damn baby had shot her with an arrow that she’d moved down from her hideaway. 

She didn’t remember much after that, having no idea of how she ended up amongst what seemed to be another city, or perhaps just a neighborhood. It wasn’t as cold when she came to her senses again, but it was dark and the houses all around her were lit from within. She’d stared, trying to get her bearings when she heard something. Her gaze shot around, landing on the blonde across from her. “I don’t mean any harm. I don’t even know how I got here.” She called. 

[lavidaesccrta]

She was confused by the flying baby, unsure what it was or why it was intent on killing her... well confused other than past the point of the gamemakers putting it there. No matter her confusion, the creature had ended up dead, a victim of one of Sapphire’s arrows. Regardless, Sapphire had continued to wander, both trying to find Penny, and trying to avoid the other girl. 

She had found herself in some sort of neighborhood. Her feet ached, and her stomach grumbled, the gash above her eyebrow painting her even more of a bloody mess than the bloodbath had. She’d tried to get into a house, found the door locked and the windows the same. She’d stormed back down the steps to the porch, fingers instinctively grabbing for her bow and stringing it with an arrow when she saw someone else moving ahead. She didn’t take aim though, pausing as the girl spoke. “Damn, no one here means any harm.” She muttered, rolling her eyes as she thought back to the girl from Four. I won’t hurt you, promise. However, the girl had attacked, and ended up dead. “But this is the Hunger Games and its either kill or be killed. So which is it Seven?”

[lavidaesccrta]

It was finally warming up as she wandered from clouds to green grass. Sapphire hadn’t seen another soul since Penny had taken off at the bloodbath. She’d traveled first west then trekked back east when she’d been met with a frigid pine forest that went on for miles. She wasn’t sure what to think of this arena yet, but at least the weather finally seemed to be getting warmer. “Thank god.” She muttered, watching a small rabbit scurry past. She thought for a moment about shooting the animal, she could eat it, but she didn’t have a way to create a fire and well... survival skills weren’t her strongest suit. Seeing other movement, she paused, reaching for the bow this time. It took a moment before she realized the movement was connected to another blonde. “You still alive Pens?” She called out. 

@penelopehyde​

[lavidaesccrta]

penelopehyde​:

She didn’t hear Sapphire, nor did she look back and perhaps that was another mistake, but no she had to keep running and that meant looking forward. The wind and cold air burned her lungs, but she kept running. At least until a piercing pain ripped through her shoulder. She gasped, feet stuttering in their run. Her eyes fell to her shoulder to see an arrow sticking out the front. She looked over her shoulder to see the other end of the arrow. She gasped, but her fingers shakily found the tip of the arrow and she pulled hard, lip between her teeth to keep from crying out at the pain. The arrow was thrown down, another glance thrown at Sapphire before she took off again. Fucking Sapphire Giada. 

-

Sapphire watched the arrow fly, hoping it would hit and smirking when it did. Not center, but there. Wounded Penny. Good enough. She picked up another arrow, took aim, but didn’t let it go. Her eyes followed the bloodied arrow fall to the ground and then the other girl take off. She didn’t pursue. No. She hadn’t particularily been lying when she told Penny she liked her. Maybe someone else would finish her off. Maybe not. She was injured, Sapphire would let her go for now. 

[lavidaesccrta]

penelopehyde​:

The quiver was empty and she was left staring down the point of an arrow. Her eyes widened. A split second decision had her throwing the quiver straight at Sapphire before turning and running away from the other blonde, deciding after perhaps too long that perhaps running in a straight line wasn’t the best option and dodging right.

-

"Bitch!” Sapphire gasped as she dodged left of the thrown quiver. It took a second to regain her balance and aim, watching the girl for a moment. “Because of that you don’t get a ten count.” She called and sent the arrow flying, cursing under her breath when Penny shifted to the right. What had been a perfect aim was going to meet off center if it hit at all.

[lavidaesccrta]

penelopehyde​:

Penny stared the other down as she spoke, rolling her eyes at the girl’s demands. Sapphire had the bow, which would make the arrows pretty useless and Sapphire had a point that she couldn’t use the bow very well, but the condescending way in which she spoke only pissed Penny off so she yanked it back towards herself once more. “Fuck you, no.” She planted her feet and gave one more hard yank, hoping to cause Sapphire to loose her grip. 

Sapphire stumbled as she quiver was yanked, loosing her grip and sending the arrows scattering as the quiver swung out. Her eyes flicked between Penny and then the arrows on the ground as she stabilized herself. A blonde brow cocked as she quickly moved to grab one, staying out of Penny’s reach and rolling away further as she secured an arrow in hand. The bow came off her shoulder next, stringing the arrow and raising it to take aim. “I’ll count to ten...” She decided. Penny wasn’t ten feet away, that was no fun.

[penelopehyde]

She stood shakily, moving away from the girl she’d just killed, trying to tell herself it was either her or the girl. Her eyes darted around, contemplating fleeing when her eyes landed on a bow and set of arrows. She wasn’t completely sure how to deal with that, how to use it, but she could learn and if it came down to it, she could always use the arrows to stab - right? She’d run in that direction, grab them up and keep going. And she tried to do just that, but her grip on the quiver’s handle yanked her back hard. She fell on her back and glared up at the adversary, the glare softening only momentarily as she realized who it was. “So this is how it’s gonna be, huh?”  She questioned, scrambling back to her feet as she reaffirmed her glower. “Fuck off Giada, I saw it first.” She snapped, tugging the weapon back towards her. 

[lavidaesccrta]

One down, ten more to go, she told herself... well probably less because she could see at least one more motionless body. But more than the extra motionless body, she saw a bow and quiver of arrows and that set her back in motion. Unfortunately, as she grabbed the quiver, bow already pulled from the quiver and slung over her shoulder, she realized another had the quiver’s handle in her grasp. “It’s the Hunger Games, how did you think it was going to bed?” She questioned, grip still firm, but looking at the other as one would a petulant child. “You might’ve seen it first, but can you use it?” She questioned with a cocked eyebrow. “Now... I like you, but I’d prefer not to kill you.” Yet. “So why don’t you let go?” She smiled charmingly now, condescending look wiped clean of her face.  

[lavidaesccrta]

Waiting in the wings while Caesar began his introductions and crowd pleasing, Sapphire painted a smile upon her face and straightened out the pastel pink sequins of the floor length gown she wore. Soon enough however, Caesar was motioning towards the wings and calling her name. “The one and only Sapphire Giada! C’mon out and join us.” And so, Sapphire did just that, striding confidently onto the stage and returning the hug that Caesar offered.

“Thank you Caesar,” she smiled brightly, moving to sit as the man did the same.

“So, Sapphire,” Caesar began, sitting forward conspirytedly, “can you tell us how you received your training score? It was pretty impressive.”

Diamond gasped in mock shock, hand over her chest as she sat back a bit. “Now Caesar, I think that’s against the rules.” She chuckled. “All you all get to know if how great of a score I earned.”

Caesar nodded in agreement, rolling his eyes playfully as he too sat back in his chair, crossing one leg over another. “Fine fine, you are right, dear Sapphire. It never hurts to try though. Okay, how about this - alliances. Do you have any?”

Sapphire shook her head, “Nu-uh. I plan to go it on my own. Easier that way, especially with only twelve tributes out of the gate. We’re already half way there, thanks Madame President.”

“That is very true.” Caesar agreed. “So then, are you ready to go into the arena? Do you think you have what it takes to win?”

Now it was Sapphire that sat forward, elbows on her knees, very un ladylike. “Obviously I have what it takes. I’ve been training for this since I convinced my mother to let me attend the Academy. I’ve been ready for years.” And she felt as if she had been. Her mother may not have wanted to her to volunteer, but it’d always been Sapphire’s intent.

“Well, Sapphire… a little birdie has told me that you weren’t even supposed to volunteer. There was another person back in One who was supposed to volunteer. Is that correct?”

Sapphire’s smile fell off her face at Caesar’s words, a slight frown turning down the corners of her lips as she thought about that particular fact. “Your little birdie would be correct, Caesar. I wasn’t supposed to volunteer. But that wasn't because of my lack of skill or the academy, but because my mother has too much influence at the academy and she did not want me to volunteer.” She didn’t want anyone in the Capitol thinking she couldn’t do it. It already bothered her enough that her mother didn’t think she could.

Caesar seemed to take that in, letting out a sympathetic sound before continuing. “Well, if Diamond didn’t want you to volunteer, then why did you? Volunteer that is?”

“I volunteered because I know I am more than capable.” Sapphire huffed, irritation growing, “I want to prove that to my mother, that I can and I will do this. I am just as capable as she is and just as capable as Mrs. Santos and fucking Diana.”

Caesar blew a puff of air out, looking to the crowd with widened eyes. This was getting juicy and would sure be the topic of gossip in the coming days. “Alright, take a deep breath Sapphire. Take a deep breath and tell me - why should the sponsors fund you?”

Sapphire’s eyes narrowed. She did not care for being patronized. “Well, I did get the highest score in training and except for the kids from Two and Four, I have the training and skills to back myself. Besides that, many of the sponsors already know me and I them. It’s not like this is the first time that I’ve been to the Capitol. There’s also the fact my mother’s a Victor. We’ve had back to back victors before, but never had a legacy victory - and Trixanna doesn’t count. Her real mom wasn’t a victor.” She was beginning to be done with this conversation, ready to sulk off back stage.

“Well then ladies and gentlemen! We only have time for one more question for this lovely lady. Sapphire,” Caesar leaned forward once more, eyes on the teenager, “if you could say anything to someone back home what would you say and who would it be to?” He asked.

“I don’t know if this counts since she’s here in the Capitol and not back home, but to my mom. I just want her to know that she’s underestimated me and tried to keep me from doing what I wanted. I can and will prove you wrong and I will be a better victor too.” By the time the words were out of her mouth, she was already standing and Caesar was quick to follow, not wanting it to seem if she were fleeing.

“Sapphire Giada ladies and gents! Thank you for your time tonight dear girl, and may the odds be ever in your favor!”

Sapphire didn’t spare him any other words before she was quick to make her way off stage, already pulling bobby pins from her hair when she made it back to the wins.

[lavidaesccrta]

bcdblccd​:

He didn’t fail to notice how Sapphire’s smile was just a polite one or the way she looked past him momentarily but Onyx didn’t comment on it. If he was going to help Sapphire he need her to talk to him. Onyx scoffed and rolled his eyes at her comment about the Career alliance. “You could say that. I didn’t even want the alliance but it was insisted on.” He commented as he took a seat and looked up at the screen. He had only rewatched his Games once in the the time since his win. “You thinking of making an alliances?” He mused, trying to sound nonchalant.

-

Saph looked over to Onyx as he took a seat before letting her gaze drift back to the screen. “You coulda used them to your advantage. Two wasn’t bad that year.” She rolled her eyes. But then he asked if she was planning on any alliances and she shrugged. “Don’t know. Two and Four are miserable this year.”

[lavidaesccrta]

“Sapphire Giada.” She heard the animated voice call her name. She stood up, giving the district two kid across from her one last look before moving into the room. The pack this year was looking like slim pickings and she was about to decide just to go at it herself. 

“Sapphire Giada, District 1.” She called as she came to a stop in the center of the training room, her eyes locked on the gamemakers.

“You have fifteen minutes to present your skills.” One of them said.

Diamond wasted no time. She moved to the throwing station, selecting a collection of throwing knives, she secured them in her belt before moving into the simulation station. She glanced at the time on the clock. thirteen minutes forty-five seconds. She set the simulation to the hardest setting before stepping into it.

The door closed and she was instantly on guard. Within seconds three golden simulations came running towards her. She hit the first one square in the chest. She gave no time to see it explode into pixels before she turned to the second and hit it in the middle of the forehead. The third she barely had time to turn, rolling onto her back, she kicked her feet up to send the animation flying over her. She turned and came to a kneeling position. She sent the third knife flying and watched as it hit the golden figure in the neck. She quickly retrieved her weapons. This continued for several minutes, each set of animations coming closer together and sending more to face her. She killed them all, only having two that she had to throw more than one knife to kill.

Her breathing was heavy as she made her way out of the simulation. Her eyes flicked to the clock. Six minutes thirty-two seconds remaining. She quickly made her way over to the dummies, grabbing a bow and quiver of arrows as she went. She steadied herself on the designated archery distance, some seventy feet from the dummies. Raising the bow, she slotted an arrow and took her aim. She released the arrow and watched as it hit the center dummy square in the chest. The next three arrows were released the same. She then moved several feet back and repeated the task. She did this twice more before finally coming to her last spot, nearing a hundred and twenty feet from the targets. She raised the bow, already slotted with an arrow and took her aim, back on the first target. She inhaled and as she exhaled she released the arrow. She watched as it flew, coming into contact in the same exact place as the first, having split the very first arrow. A smile spread over her lips.

She looked at the clock once more. One minute and fifty-four seconds. She looked around quickly and made her way to the survival station. Her last minute and a half was spent building a quick trap. Afterall it wasn’t all about fighting, survival skills were needed in the arena as well.

Just before the buzzer sounded, Sapphire dropped the last knife she had on her belt. The trap snapped shut, breaking the handle of the knife. A smile spread over her lips, and feeling accomplished, she exited the room. “Thank you.” She called just as she stepped out of the room and the doors shut behind her.

@justagame-hq

[bcdblccd]

In search of one of the Santos, Onyx exited the elevator onto the District One floor. He could hear voices coming from the living area but as he entered the space Onyx realized it was Caesar Flickerman’s voice. It was then he saw Sapphire sitting on one of the couches watching a previous year’s Games. “What year is this?” He asked, moving to take a seat in a chair.

@lavidaesccrta​

[lavidaesccrta]

Sapphire looked up when she heard the voice, smiling politely, but it didn’t reach her eyes. She threw a look past him, checking for his wife before settling back into the couch and turning her attention back towards the screen. “Your’s.” She replied simply, brushing her hair off her shoulder. “That Career alliance really fell apart quick, huh?”

[lavidaesccrta]

penelopehyde​:

Penelope stopped her spinning and eyed the speaker. “Well then it’s a dreadful year to be reaped.” She put on a pout, lower lip jutting out. “I don’t know, I just expected it to be… more?” She shrugged before skipping around the couch and sitting on the one opposite the other girl. “I’m Penelope, or Penny, whichever you prefer,” her words had a bit of a twang to them as she spoke, “who’re you?”

Sapphire continued to observe the girl. She was more chipper than Saph could ever remember seeing someone from the lower districts. Usually they were scared, worried, crying even... But not this girl. She’d have to keep her eye on her. “Riight.” She murmured, looking around for a quick moment before returning her attention to the girl. “Sapphire. Just Sapphire.” She answered the other’s question. 

[lavidaesccrta]

giada-diamond​:

Diamond glanced up from the file spread open on her lap. It was one she had memorized already, but one she hoped to not have to ever pull. “Well when my daughter decides to go against the promise she made,” she raised a brow, “I suppose I have to show my face around here.” Normally, she’d stow away in her apartment studio and paint until the games were over and she could return home. “Whatever happened to ‘No, mother, I won’t volunteer’?” 

-

Sapphire’s arms crossed over her chest. “What happened to ‘no, mother, I won’t volunteer,’ was the same thing that happened to your promise to be a more present mother.” She pursed her lips. “Instead your attention’s still more focused on your little protege and her little protege, both victors, soooo...” she dragged the syllable out further than was necessary, “here I am. The only way to garner attention from you, my mother, is being a victor. Guess I’ll be a victor. The Academy thinks I’ve got what it takes. Or maybe that’s just the Giada name over the west wing.”

[lavidaesccrta]

@giada-diamond​

Sapphire wondered how long it’d be before she saw her mother make an appearance at the Tower, so when she sauntered into the district one floor to find the familiar head of blonde already there she was surprised. “How nice of you to deign us with your presence, Mother.” She murmured, moving around the couch to face her mother properly. 

[penelopehyde]

“Well,” Penny began dramatically to anyone who might listen, “this place surely isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.” She cast her gaze around. There certainly wasn’t anything like this back in Ten, and it was most definitely impressive to the young woman, but no one had to know that right?

[lavidaesccrta]

Sapphire was no stranger to the tower, having followed her mother on multiple occasions as a child, and had already taken up residence on one of many plush couches in the lobby. “Two years before a quell, I’m afraid they’re waiting for updates until then.” She commented upon hearing the other young woman. She looked up, looking the girl from head to toe and back up again. Penelope Hyde, District Ten. Saph was sure that girl was only playing at her lack of awe. There was nothing like this in Ten, surely... right?

[justagame-hq]

claire holt - 18 - she/her || Did you see her? I think I just saw Sapphire Giada walk into the tribute tower. I’m so excited that she’s here this year as a tribute from District One. She’s known as The Ice Queen because she’s so head-strong, but is sometimes dismissive of others.

[lavidaesccrta]

FIN

He’d been on the move since the earliest hours of the day, the screeching of a woman in distress making sleep nearly impossible. And he’d moved through the arena, restless and not wanting to just sit. The screams had eventually subsided with the dawn of a new day, but it seemed the temperatures dropped as the day went on. And so though he knew it wasn’t the smartest idea, he built himself a fire deep within the woods, lost, and cold, and he rested, closing his eyes as the afternoon sun dragged on and over the horizon. The day was dull, but walking for miles had made him exhausted. He hadn’t even meant to doze off into sleep. 

He didn’t realize that he’d even fallen asleep until a voice echoed in his ear. 

Did you know, Cisco, that when a star falls from the sky, it’s not really a star, but something called a meteor? 

He’d startled awake then, hitting his head against the tree he’d been leaning on. “Samara?” He hadn’t remembered the random fact, but he’d recognize her voice anywhere. He looked around quickly, eyes searching the trees that surrounded him, but the shadows of night had fallen and it was near impossible to see. He must have just been dreaming. He leaned forward to brush dirt over the still glowing embers of what remained of his fire. He didn’t want found and he should probably get moving. 

He was moving through the arena again, weaving between trees in search of anything, or anyone, really. He may. Have lost Mandi and couldn’t exactly ally with Diana, but he’d finally begin doing what he could to pick off the others. 

You know, that bird. That blue one… right there.

He stopped as he heard her again. Was he sleep walking? Was he still dreaming? His eyes searched for the blue bird though he knew exactly what she spoke of this time. Their first full day in the arena, they’d seen a bright blue bird. 

They went extinct a long time before even the dark days. That’s called a Spix’s Macaw. It’s so cool the game makers were able to recreate them. 

 But all he found was darkness and a shadow that wouldn’t stay in his line of sight. But he couldn’t let himself linger on the guilt, couldn’t let himself succumb to it. This had to be a trick by the game makers. He had things to do, steps to take which he couldn’t let himself waver from. 

But her words continued, each one becoming harder to ignore, until she was crying out for him and he could literally envision the scene the echos of her voice belonged to. 

Hearing her screams.  Running. Arriving just seconds too late.  Holding he in his lap.  Trying to apply pressure to the wound.  Begging her to stay with him.  Realizing she was dead.  Refusing to let her go until her body had gone cold.  Watching as the hovercraft carried her away. 

“I’m sorry Samara.” His voice repeated, whispers falling as his lips barely moved. He hadn’t realized he was no longer moving, rooted in place as his mind haunted him, long ago buried memories resurfacing. The sound of a deep growl brought him back to the present, eyes searching his surroundings quickly only to find his vision blurred by unshed tears. 

Hesitation, only a second, long enough to wipe his eyes, but long enough for something to fall from the tree above him as it let out a guttural growl, pinning him to the ground underneath it’s massive body. He had scrambled to turn over, hurry out from under the creature, but the pain that tore through his leg as a great paw dug into his thigh and pulled him back was unbearable. 

We should have stayed together.

He heard her, but couldn’t see her and the pain tearing through him only made her words seem louder. He tried to fight off the great cat, kicking and punching, but he didn’t have a weapon and a roll of medical tape would do nothing against the great beast. It wouldn’t even touch the gaping wounds that swelled and spilled of his blood. The beast wasn’t phased by his feeble kicks or his weak punches, mauling at him time and time again. And still Francisco’s blood spilled, still he screamed, still his body felt as if it were on fire as it was literally torn apart. 

You never know what lurks in the shadows, Cisco.

She was right and suddenly she was there next to him, his sister standing in a golden hue. Her hands was outstretched to him. 

Únete a mí, hermano. 

And join her he did. His worldly body stopped screaming, stopped fighting, fell limp. But he stood, reached a hand out to his sister, and joined her in the afterlife.