Poppy Fitch

twenty - district five

[poppy-fitch]

elleryandesine​:

The Jester… thought Ellery. Makes sense. He hadn’t been sure whether Merrit’s wild behavior was due to his drunkenness or his natural temperament. Either way, Poppy had vouched for his character and she seemed to know him well. Ellery was still scared of Merrit– terrified, even– but he decided to hide these feelings in front of his new friend. Better to play it off like a joke, he thought.

“Quite the character indeed,” Ellery replied with a slight laugh. “So much happened in the short time we spoke– he kissed me, for one! And then a ghost showed up and told him he only had a week to live. Strange stuff.”

A brief wave of melancholy washed over Ellery as he glanced at the girl. They were similar in so many ways– looks, abilities, interests. We both have the same strategy, he thought. Partner up with someone stronger who can protect us. For Poppy, that likely meant Merrit. For Ellery… well, he wasn’t quite sure. The only thing he knew was that he and Poppy would be a losing ticket in the Games. They would partner with different people, and one of them would die. He had made a new friend, but he would lose her just as quickly.

“I’m assuming you intend to pair with him for the Quell?” asked Ellery. “You should. He’s probably your best chance to win.”

“Did he now!” Poppy was clearly delighted. That did sound like Merrit at a party. Gender didn’t stop his flirting, though she had never thought to ask how serious those feelings may be. Poor Ellery. The thought of the look on his face after being kissed made her want to laugh, but it might not be so fun for him. It also stirred another feeling that, quite frankly, Poppy didn’t want to give voice to. She was being ridiculous, and... “Wait, a ghost?“ He was just going to glide over that?!

Poppy thought she couldn’t stop smiling, but the Quell was brought up again. She didn’t blame Ellery. That’s probably what the entire train ride was for--strategizing. Unless the Capitol just wanted them to all get to know one another as people before they were sent to the arena. If Merrit was even planning to pair with her, Poppy and Merrit winning would mean Ellery losing. Poppy bit her lip. She didn’t want that either! She didn’t have close friends back in Five. It was like she was missing her only chance. Here, she’d met someone she felt like she could talk to for an entire lifetime and there would still always be more to say. Their time together was so achingly short.

“We should all eat lunch together!“ Poppy said desperately. “Or even just you and me.” Without realizing it, her hand had shot out to grab Ellery’s. As if that flimsy tether would suddenly stop their fate. She wasn’t sure at all how the Tribute Center worked. But training so hard, surely the tributes must eat some kind of meal together. Poppy could still have friends. Maybe. Well, at the least, she didn’t want tonight to be the end of that time. 

[savannahawthorne]

Cradling her injured wrist, Savanna stood up and glanced around until she heard the noise; a pop, pop, pop. Gunfire. It wasn’t a sound she had heard back in District Twelve too often, but it had been common in District Two, especially considering her father was a Peacekeeper and a former soldier. When she had been ten, he had tried teaching her, so she could be familiar but Savanna hadn’t wanted to touch the gun.

Instinctively, she ducked as the rounds clipped the side of the window. Who would be shooting at the train and who were they aiming at? Even after the emergency lights came on, Savanna found herself still sitting propped up against the wall. It was silly to still be scared, there were now shutters on the windows, but who to say the people outside wouldn’t come onto the train?

“Who’s there?” She asked softly hearing footsteps in the darkened hall associated with a shadowy form approaching.

[poppy-fitch]

The sound of Poppy’s footsteps were uneven as she stumbled more than walked into the next car. Her legs wobbled like a newborn fawn and her heart hammered so loudly that it drowned out the sounds of continuing gunshots. She had been sitting right next to the window. When it had started, there was screaming. Maybe even her own. It was sheer luck that none of the bullets fired into her suite had hit her. But there was a gash on her forearm from where shattered glass had cut her. Poppy clutched her arm tightly, trying to stop the blood. They can fix it in the Capitol. They can fix it in the Capitol.

She didn’t want stitches. She hated medical bays. Had spent more than her fair share of time in them. The Games hadn’t started yet. She thought she had time. They were supposed to be safe! 

Red, dim emergency light illuminated the train, and Poppy saw rather than heard that someone else was here. “I-I’m Poppy.” She should elaborate more. That she was a tribute. What District she was from. A polite ‘what about you?’ She had been getting used to it. She had been having fun.

Instead, Poppy wobbled over toward the girl on the ground, hoping she could help. She seemed like she might be scared too.

[poppy-fitch]

elleryandesine​:

Ellery could tell that Poppy was blushing. “Don’t worry,” he said. “I won’t listen to your poem.” It was another lie– if anything, he was even more interested in hearing it now. “You’re right about the Capitol stuff, though… it isn’t worth your time. Unless you’re excited about a million lazy metaphors comparing President Coin to a flower. In that case, go right ahead!” He laughed– it was his first time making fun of the poetry out loud. Around his tutors, he had always been forced to praise it.

Realizing that he had been standing for their entire conversation, Ellery took a few steps back and sat across from the girl. “Anyway,” he continued, “tell me about 5. What’s it like? The furthest I’ve ever traveled is District 4.” Ellery was about to tell Poppy she was the first person he’d met from 5 when he suddenly remembered his encounter with Merrit. His face soured, but he tried to hide it.

“Oh, and your district partner. He was… curious.” There were many more disparaging adjectives that Ellery could use, but he didn’t want to offend Poppy. Even though Ellery had hardly spoken to his district partner, he was aware that many of the others were quite close. For all he knew, Merrit and Poppy might be allies. He couldn’t lay his hatred of Merrit out in the open– who knew, perhaps his friendship with Poppy might cause the boy to spare him. No, thought Ellery. It wouldn’t. He had seen the bloodlust in Merrit’s eyes. 

“I didn’t know gray flowers even existed,“ Poppy snorted. She laughed along with Ellery before catching herself quickly, and covered her mouth with the tips of her fingers “That was rude of me.“

She shouldn’t care. She knew that. It was because of President Coin that all but two of the people on this train would die. Why she had to fight for her life. Pointing out their leader’s penchant for drab fashion was nothing in terms of revenge. But... Poppy wasn’t used to talking like this. She supposed she would have to get used to being much more brutal yet.

“District Five doesn’t have much for me.“ She admitted. “I was too weak for a path as a Career. Never wanted to either. So I have to work in a power plant and I hate it.“

Poppy tilted her head inquisitively at Ellery’s hesitation. Maybe they didn’t like each other? Merrit could go overboard in a party environment. Which she guess this qualified as. But maybe she could expand a bit on the situation, make Merrit less... curious. “Merrit is quite the character, yes! His schoolmates even had a nickname for him: the Jester. He’s my older sister’s age, and they’ve always been extremely close. I’ve practically grown up with him.”

[poppy-fitch]

merrit-greenside​:

He could see the fear in her, she’d already given up hope. Resigned to her fate. A fate he was determined to change. She was right of course, she wasn’t a fighter. She was clumsy and hesitant, with no faith in herself. Those qualities didn’t make a great warrior. But you don’t need to be a great warrior to win the games. The games were about strategy, wit, intuition. It’s not about besting the opponent in front of you, but you have to beat the arena too. Martial supremacy helps, but plenty of talented careers have lost before.He took her hand in an attempt to reassure her.

“Maybe you just didn’t have the right teacher.” he smiled.

Relief shot through Poppy as fast as the train currently speeding them away to the Capitol. But now, the train didn’t have to be speeding her to her death. Merrit was a trained fighter, one of the most excellent in District Five. He could more than teach her. He was going to teach her! More than just relief, though, Poppy was so happy. Happy that Merrit wasn’t going to leave her behind. That she wouldn’t have to fight to kill--or not get killed by--someone who was such a big part of her life. 

She let out a deep breath, tension melting from her body. Then, without warning, Poppy threw herself at Merrit and hugged him tightly. This changed everything. She actually would stand a chance. This gave her her life back.

“...Yes, I think you’re right.“ Poppy wiped at her glossy eyes and nodded determinedly. She didn’t want to fight, but she could be strong. “I’ll learn. I won’t slow you down.“ 

[poppy-fitch]

zephyrsteele​:

It wasn’t necessarily that Zephyr had actively chosen to sneak towards the girl, but rather that he didn’t stop himself from doing it. She was so enraptured by the world rushing past them that she was all but oblivious to what was actually going on within the train.

He had no idea who she was, but his exploration so far had proved to be most useful, so he had decided he would continue his voyage into getting to know the other tributes.

It wasn’t his seat she was sat at. He wasn’t even sure they had been assigned seats, but there was something about her attitude that made Zephyr want to contradict her.

“It is my seat.” He said with a wry smile. “We all got assigned seats when we got on to the train.”

He looked from her to the seat to the flurry of trees passing them outside the window.

“But I won’t stop you from sitting there.”

Poppy blinked, her challenging attitude banished by clear confusion. There really were assigned seats when they got on the train? Had she really been that out of it since being elected and pushed on board that she didn’t remember? And how could she find her seat now? The possibility that this unfamiliar boy was lying to her, especially over such a minute detail, never even occurred to Poppy.

She stood, torn. She didn’t want to get in trouble with the Capitol if they chose to enforce their silly assigned seating, but backing down after ‘deal with it’ would just make her look stupid.

“Thanks, I guess. My name’s Poppy, District Five. And you are...?“ So many introductions. And so far, just as many interesting and memorable people.

[poppy-fitch]

lyrasilverspring​:

“No, the forest is separate,” Lyra explained, “We have the lands we harvest from, carefully arranged and organised and monitored, and they produce the output necessary to meet the Capitol’s desires. Beyond that, we have surrounding forest- the land that has always existed there. It remains untouched because there is no gain for the Capitol from exploiting it. District seven does not have enough workers to manage more land than it already does, and it would take lifetimes to shape the forest into something productive enough to make back the cost. So the forest is left.”

Lyra didn’t explain how even those outside the Silverspring family always knew to respect the forest. That the peacekeepers themselves knew better than to push against the borders of a land far older and more powerful than the steel they might bring to cut it down. It was not something you could comprehend before experiencing it.

“I didn’t think there was anything that was beyond the Capitol.“ 

Poppy was rapt, paying attention to Lyra’s explanation. Without even realizing it, her hands had drifted away from her glass and to her sides, balled in fists. Her fingernails left little half-moon marks on the inside of her palm. This far-away forest made her dare to hope, maybe just a bit.

Lyra herself was strange, but in a brave way. Her life had been unconventional. She didn’t play by societal rules. Maybe she would even avoid being able to play the Games’ rules, somehow. Yet underneath all Poppy’s current awe, there was a hint of jealousy. She wished she could be more like Lyra in that way.

“If the District doesn’t control it, can’t some of you run away and escape?“

[poppy-fitch]

fortwest​:

As he released her hand from his grip, his brain was just aware enough to clock the way she brought her hand quickly towards her, almost cradling it, and suddenly felt uncomfortable about his own strength. He shook it off uneasily and grabbed a bottle of some miscellaneous alcohol from the table to his side, splashed a little into two glasses and handed one to Poppy. That should kill the discomfort.

Fort smiled and turned his head this way and that to try and make out the writing on the page. It was quite literally incomprehensible, but he nodded sagely as though he understood. “Have you always kept a journal?”

“Can I have a go?” Fort honestly couldn’t remember the last time he’d physically written something down that wasn’t his name, and sat for a moment with the pen in his hand and his tongue between his teeth thinking. In the end he decided to sketch Poppy in the corner of the page – he didn’t think it was half-bad, either. He remembered teachers used to tell him he was good at drawing people and putting their personality on the paper, though he hadn’t drawn in a long time. “Here,” he slid the book over to Poppy with a small smile.

Poppy was drinking a lot today. Probably too much, she knew. But they’d all gone through a lot today. The most that anyone could go through in Panem. Fort seemed to notice her own discomfort and, oh goodness, now he was uncomfortable and Poppy felt bad. Surely if he was half the bloodthirsty Career that he looked like, he wouldn’t be so good-natured.

“Long as I can remember, yeah. Not usually for day-to-day. I like to write. But, now, I want to leave a...“ A record. She wanted to leave a record behind of herself, in the very likely event of her death. Even though no one would likely ever read it, either. The words died on Poppy’s lips in the company of polite conversation. “A-A buncha notes for myself so I don’t forget names! That’s why I wrote yours down!“ She laughed nervously. She was so bad at this.

Fortunately, Fort seemed to be busy with something else. Poppy squinted, trying to get her vision to focus on the small lines. When she succeeded, she gasped with delight and clutched the journal to her chest. In her state, words escaped her for a moment before she finally, loudly announced: “Fort, this is lovely!”

[poppy-fitch]

merrit-greenside​:

“Look here little Wolf. I’m not going to let anything happen to you, not here, not in the arena, not ever.” he held her as he spoke and his intense gaze met her eye. Did she think I was going to leave her? As if there was ever a chance of me partnering with someone else. 

Poppy’s eyes were wide in the face of Merrit’s serious stare. She could tell that he meant it, and of course she trusted him. But never in a million years had she think Merrit would offer to partner up with her, which... seemed like what he was willing to do. If she wasn’t being too presumptuous. 

“I... I would just slow you down,“ she argued weakly. “You haven’t seen me try to fight since I was fourteen. I’m sure I’m even worse now.”

Merrit and Tansee used to encourage her to join in training sessions, but she had hated it. She was abysmal. Tansee had finally given up when she had grown too old to get accepted into any Career program. Instead, Poppy had been happy to read and watch from the sidelines; she’d seen how good Merrit was. He could win. Poppy wanted to be by his side there too. She really did. She cared about Merrit. But even though it meant her detriment, she didn’t know that she could bear to be a weakness for him.

[poppy-fitch]

elleryandesine​:

“I must confess,” said Ellery, “I didn’t catch your poem on TV. I was a bit too preoccupied with my own situation. I’m sure it was great, though… maybe I’ll go back and find the recording.”

He admired the way the girl’s eyes lit up when she talked about words. Ellery had lost hope long ago, but Poppy still seemed to possess a small piece of it. It was strange– Ellery didn’t find her incredibly impressive or attractive; she was just good. He hadn’t met a good person in a while. Hell, he hadn’t opened up this much to someone since he was a kid. Maybe we can be friends, he thought. I’ve never had a real friend before.

“I think you might have the wrong impression of me,” he told her. “I’m educated, but there’s plenty I don’t know. The only skills I acquired in the Capitol were lying and cheating… they have value, of course. But they only get you so far. Have you read any Capitol poetry? It’s intelligent, sure– but it isn’t good.” He paused, giving Poppy an awkward look. “I’m ranting, aren’t I? Sorry.”

For a brief moment, Ellery forget where the train was headed. He forgot about the reaping, and the pain it had brought. He was simply happy to be talking to someone real. 

Poppy turned pink at the thought of someone going out of their way just to listen to something she had created. “Oh, There’s no need! I’m sure there are more poems in my future. If the Capitol wants to hear it.”

She adamantly shook her head against Ellery’s apology. There was no need for it—this was the best conversation she’d had all day! “No, I haven’t had the opportunity to read Capitol poetry.” Her book of poems had been something of a family heirloom. It was very old, nearly predating the Capitol. Most of the poems were about ancient history, a time before the Games. She chose her next words politely. “I don’t imagine it has much... depth to it.”

What was there to wax poetic about in the glitzy world of the Capitol? There was no struggle like as in the Districts. Ellery might not have faced much struggle before now either, but he wasn’t anything what she would expect. Here he was self-deprecating, deflating her own opinion of him. Poppy had never heard anyone, regardless of riches, admit that lying and cheating was not enough to get one through life. Ellery was like no one else she had ever met, and Poppy quite liked him. Another Career who was not a Career. She felt they shared their own kind of bond.

[poppy-fitch]

lyrasilverspring​:

The grey took on red undertones as Poppy answered, so Lyra decided not to bring up Merrit again. There was some discomfort there, thought that could mean many things- discomfort at being asked, discomfort at the thought of him, at the fact they were both here. It would just take time and observation to understand the deeper intricacies of the district five pair.

“It is lovely,” Lyra smiled brightly, as she always did when talking of the trees, “Though the true beauty is in the trees we do not cut down for the capitol. In the elders of the forest, grown so tall that they are able to stretch through the ages, holding the years they have seen in their hidden rings. Perhaps it is from them that I haven’t learned to be still, and to wait.”

She calmly resumed drinking her cider, somewhat distracted by thoughts of her sister tree, and all the rings it would not grow should she not return. But she shook herself slightly, consciously redirecting her attention to the girl beside her.

“To sit still, and to wait, huh?“ Poppy mused, pouring her own flask of cider and nursing it. That certainly sounded like what little she knew of Lyra. But would that be enough to win the Hunger Games? Not that Poppy could be one to speak to such. None of them were, but that was only a matter of time. 

 “I see. I didn’t know know there were any trees Seven didn’t cut down for the Capitol.“ She raised the glass to her and smiled slightly into drink. That did sound beautiful. Something so mighty that even the Capitol could not cut down. The way Lyra normally spoke sounded like poetry. Poppy should write some of this down. “Is it because they seed the next generation of the forest?“

[poppy-fitch]

merrit-greenside​:

“You wouldn’t dare” he tried to place as much gravitas on the sentence as possible, but he just ended up laughing. He noticed that she almost recoiled at his touch, her eyes wide liked a scared doe, and it took him by surprise. He let his grip soften and stepped away. “Poppy - you know i’d never, ever hurt you” he hoped she believed him.

Poppy would dare, and she was just getting ready to do so when Merrit’s hug relaxed unexpectedly.

She’d seen Merrit in many moods before, all her life—mostly from afar—but the rarest of all of them had been sadness. It made her feel strange. Bad. In this particular case, mostly confused.

Poppy shifted away from him as well, worrying her lip between her teeth. She knew him as fun and always kind to her, someone she looked up right alongside Tansee when she was a child. Surely, not even that could change their circumstances. “But Merrit, this is the Hunger Games.” She was able to meet his eyes despite the heavy subject. “We’re supposed to all hurt each other...”

[poppy-fitch]

merrit-greenside​:

His drink jostled in his hand as she kicked his chair. “Well you know me, always here for a good time.” he smiled at her as he took another sip from his drink. He looked at Poppy and saw parts of her sister in her. Especially her eyes. Poppy couldn’t quite match the fierce, man-eating stare of her sister though - Poppy’s was more timid and unsure. 

“Oh and what you gonna do about it?” he retorted before grabbing her in a tight bear hug. 

“Merrit!” Poppy protested. She tried to squirm free of his grasp, but it was half-hearted. She’d watched tens of his matches and his training sessions. It was more than enough to know that he was stronger than she could ever hope to be. And it made her scared. They may be friends for now, but what if he decided to turn that strength against her in the arena? “I’ll—“ She cast about for inspiration. Poppy’s eyes lighted on the way the chair jostled Merrit’s glass. “I’ll spill your drink.” She threatened.

[poppy-fitch]

lyrasilverspring​:

Lyra took a small sip as she considered the girl’s answer, “Five? With Merrit right?”

She wondered if they knew each other. They would make an interesting pair- his oranges against her greys. Both complimentary and clashing, Poppy at great risk of drowning in his presence, or becoming nothing more than a comparison piece to make him shine brighter.

“I’m from district seven, lumber,” she answered dutifully, “And I’m still very much in the processing stage of it all, I suppose. Taking in my surroundings,” she gestured loosely to Poppy, “Meeting my fellow tributes. I suspect the time will come to panic, but it is not now.”

“Um, yes.“ Poppy was a bit uncomfortable with this line of questioning. It wasn’t as if she could remember who Lyra’s district partner was. She must have already met Merrit, then. “He’s kind of a friend of a friend with my sister.“

She glanced outside the train again, to the forestry that flew by. “District Seven seems lovely. All those trees.” That was one of the things she had been most surprised about, leaving Five’s borders behind. The world was so much greener than she ever knew. 

“I don’t know, though. Now seems like a fine time to panic to me. The best time, even.” Poppy said dryly. She understood why Lyra would still be processing. Weren’t they all? But there were no cameras on the train. Unless that was a lie.

[poppy-fitch]

merrit-greenside​:

He smiled, still staring out into the the thick black night. “Hello there little Wolf, been drinking have you?” he smiled to himself, turning his gaze to her. It was nice to see her, and she seemed somewhat kept together, whether that be due to the alcohol or not he hadn’t figured out. 

Poppy kicked the leg of his chair, pouting. “Can see you have too.” It was certainly more common for him to do so. Whenever a party was thrown and alcohol could be found in District Five, Merrit could also be found there. Probably forcing Tansee along. Poppy found it intimidating. Most party-goers were more their friends than hers, those in a program training to be Careers. She hadn’t even been allowed to train.

“I told you not to call me that.”

Tansee was ‘Wolf,’ and that was fitting. But Poppy was hardly a wolf, little or otherwise. That dubious honor should belong to Merrit—as lean and fast and dangerous as he was. She was relieved nothing seemed to have changed between them. She would only slow him down, and she’d been half-convinced that he would want nothing to do with her once they’d boarded the train. Could be that had to wait until they reached the Tribute Center.

[merrit-greenside]

The first day on the train had been long. Most of the tributes had a story to tell, he hadn’t decided yet which ones he wanted to listen too. A few of them had piqued his interest, on a social level, but he had yet to see anyone he deemed as a threat. He raised his glass and took a sip as he looked out the back of the train into the darkness that trailed behind. He caught the reflection of a figure standing in the doorway behind him. “Been there long?” he inquired, still facing the window.

[poppy-fitch]

“I have better things to do than stand around and watch you, Merrit Greenside,” Poppy teased. It was more something like what her sister would say. It was also a lie. What worthwhile things were there for any of them to do at the moment? 

The train had grown dark, and she was happy to see such a familiar face. Most tributes didn’t have that luxury. Poppy made her way across the room, taking hold of various chairs for balance, until she plopped beside him. 

 “If you even are Merrit. You look almost contemper—contemplative.” Poppy giggled, the alcohol meaning she thought herself very funny tonight.

[poppy-fitch]

elleryandesine​:

“Ah, that’s probably smart,” said Ellery, regaining his composure. He immediately regretted dumping all of his personal baggage on Poppy– his attempt at sympathy had seemed to lower the girl’s spirits even more. Ellery wanted a shoulder to cry on, but he couldn’t let that shoulder belong to another tribute. For now, it was better to hold back tears and curry favor. It was easy for Ellery to be fake around the other careers, but Poppy had a way of breaking down his walls. 

“You’re a poet?” he asked. He had to change the subject away from their impending doom. “I’ve always loved poetry, but I’ve never written much myself. Just never felt inspired, you know?” This was a lie– Ellery had filled entire books with poetry, but he was always too embarrassed to show them to people. Besides, they were all back in District 2. “You should read the Gamemakers a poem during your private training,” he suggested half-jokingly. “A stunt like that– I would give you a 12.”

Poppy brightened at the mention of her favorite topic. “That’s lovely! I didn’t expect I’d meet someone else like that here.” She liked to write, but she would argue that hardly made her a poet. That title should go to the people who deserved it, who trained for years to hone their craft. But, if Poppy was possibly about to die so very young, maybe that was excuse enough to claim what she wanted. “I did actually read something I wrote during the interviews. It’s okay if you didn’t see—I don’t remember what you did.” 

She wasn’t strong, she hadn’t even done well in school. That poem must have been the reason she was chosen. And yet Poppy couldn’t even say that she fully regretted it. It had felt good to share her work. To have everyone cheer for something she had done.

“You wouldn’t be wrong to. Words have an immense power. They can change people’s minds as much as any physical threat.” Poppy’s eyes were shining. She caught herself and looked down. “Of course, I’m sure you already know that, being so educated and all.“

[poppy-fitch]

fortwest​:

The room swam as Fort looked at the hand proffered to him. He had still been thinking about his name when the girl told him hers, so he only had a vague idea what it was. Bopper didn’t seem right even though that’s what his head was telling him. He settled on the closest name to it. “Nice to meet you - Poppy.” He tried to make his voice sound confident and almost sighed in relief when she didn’t correct him. He took her hand and shook it firmly.

“What are you writing there?” He gestured towards the notebook and took another bite of his pastry, relaxing his formidable form back into the chair.

Fort was strong. Poppy’s hand was small in his grip, and when she withdrew it, her tips of her fingers were shaking. She imagined those hands easily snapping her neck. How quickly it would be all over.

Stop it. Stop it, stop it. You’re here. Safe for now.

Poppy’s stomach could not be stopped from churning uneasily with tasty pastries. She seized onto Fort’s question like a lifeline, as a way to distract herself. “Oh, I use it for a lot of things. Right now I’m just writing down everything as I experience it. Here:”

Quickly, with a smear of ink on her own hand, Poppy scrawled out ‘Today I... met... Ford!’ She lifted it up to display to Ford himself, with the same level of pride a child would have showing off their macaroni art. In Poppy’s drunken state, the entire page was written in barely-legible chicken scratch, utterly alien to the neat script that might have been seen throughout the rest of the journal.