𝒮𝓉𝑒𝒻𝒶𝓃𝒾𝒶'𝓈 𝒻𝒶𝒸𝑒 𝑔𝓇𝑒𝓌 𝓅𝒶𝓁𝑒 𝒶𝓉 𝒽𝑒𝓇 𝓌𝑜𝓇𝒹𝓈 𝒻𝑜𝓇 𝒶 𝓈𝓅𝓁𝒾𝓉 𝓈𝑒𝒸𝑜𝓃𝒹 𝒷𝑒𝒻𝑜𝓇𝑒 𝒷𝑒𝒸𝑜𝓂𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒻𝓁𝓊𝓈𝓉𝑒𝓇𝑒𝒹 𝒾𝓃 𝓇𝒶𝑔𝑒. “That wasn’t trash talk. I don’t stoop down to the childlike behavior of your niche.” She responds with a snarl as she sips on her second glass. As she heard her aunt’s name come out of her mouth she broke the champagne glass and pointed it in the direction of her neck. “Don’t you, ever, breathe her name to me. Ever. I don’t give a fuck about the games. I killed people too. And people hate me for it. Rightfully so. But I show respect. You’re an apathetic sociopath. You were heartless.”
She gasps as she slowly drops the glass as she turns around, grabs a tequila shot and downs it. “You may be okay and wired like a robot but I have my humanity. I remember how I got here just enough without letting it take me over, because I’m a decent fucking person. There’s no excitement.We may have trained for this, but if they play their cards wrong…or stabbed in the back, they become memories. So you do things your way, and I’ll do things mine.”
Ravinia’s smile didn’t drop from her lips. It wasn’t the first time she had been threatened by a weaker person, and last time they had more deadly weapons than a broken glass. She let out a small titter of laughter - not at the situation, but rather to appease those around them that this was no problem. A few nervous party-goers looked on, but Ravi waved them off with her grin.
“I see I hit a nerve. I apologize. But Stef, look where you are. You are in the Capitol. You are in the heart of things right here, right now.” Ravi’s voice took on an acidic edge. “Do not go threatening mayors, Victors, anyone. I am not your enemy here. I’m done with my Games. Peacekeepers are everywhere here. And you and I? We are pawns. Nothing to them. Everything to them, of course, but nothing to them.”
Ravi clasped her hands in front of her, maintaining her icy smile. This girl was making a scene, and that was the last thing Ravinia wanted to be a part of. Not to mention how dangerous Stef was talking. Not caring about the Games? After witnessing the Parade? The young woman was one wrong ear hearing her away from a disappearance.
“I’m perfectly happy to play our Games differently from each other. And we don’t have to be friends, Stef; that’s your loss if you don’t want to be on my good side. But you will get yourself killed if you continue with your childish tantrum. So what I’m going to do is laugh loudly. I would suggest you join me. Then I will air kiss you, and we will both walk away from each other. Then you will hope I am the only person who heard you say what you just said. And maybe, just maybe, you’ll survive this party. You can’t help your Tributes if you’re dead. Understood?” Ravi opened her smile a little wider before breaking into a loud peal of laughter.
𝒮𝓉𝑒𝒻𝒶𝓃𝒾𝒶 𝓇𝑜𝓁𝓁𝑒𝒹 𝒽𝑒𝓇 𝑒𝓎𝑒𝓈, 𝒶𝓁𝓂𝑜𝓈𝓉 𝓈𝒾𝒸𝓀 𝓉𝑜 𝒽𝑒𝓇 𝓈𝓉𝑜𝓂𝒶𝒸𝒽. Listening to her ramble enthusiastically about the games, didn’t help. She lightly scratched her wrists as her aunts name stretched out her skin. The shit in her lab could make her killer suffer for weeks, months even before she perished. But that would bring more trouble for Stefania. She had been more vocal for her disdain for her and the games, yet here she was. She raised her hand to cut her off. “How lovely, as the years go by your brain melts and your skin sags. The Archembaults are in my thoughts and I’m gonna make sure that family doesn’t lose two kids. Not for the games’ sake. But for them.” She scoffed as she took two glasses from the waiter and downed one instantly.
Well, Stefania certainly had some sass in her today. The bright smile on Ravi’s face fell to a murderous glare for the briefest of moments before bouncing back into a content smirk. “Where’d you learn that trash talk? The pathetic competitors during your Games?”
Ravi sipped at her drink again, sizing the young woman up. After a moment, she saw Stef scratch at the tattoo on her wrist, and a light bulb went off. “Stefania. You can’t possibly be mad at me for my Games? All those years ago? You were in the Arena yourself - you know it’s kill or be killed. If it makes you feel any better, I quite enjoyed fighting Ariadne. She was a marvelous opponent, unlike just about everyone else in my Games.”
Ravi took another measured sip from her champagne as Stef downed hers. “You seem so on edge! What say you we let bygones be bygones and have a good clean Games this year? And I’ll start that off with a piece of advice: don’t get sentimental on your Tributes. One, it only will end in heartbreak and two, the Sponsors don’t give two shits about the families. If you actually want to help your Tributes, hype them up. Get excited about the Games. Play them. We’re on the other side now, Stefania. Hop to it.”
𝒯𝒽𝑒 𝒢𝒶𝓂𝑒𝓈 𝓌𝑒𝓇𝑒 𝓇𝑒𝒶𝓁𝓁𝓎 𝒶𝓇𝑜𝓊𝓃𝒹 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒸𝑜𝓇𝓃𝑒𝓇 and Stefania was over it. Being a Dugue. Being a career victor. She wanted to be at home, in the house she earned, playing with poison, playing with chemicals…and of course, helping people the best way she could. But the games…were her duty. She played the game, won. Little did she know this was her life now. There was no running away from the games…until death. She just loved the constant reminder of her victims, and all she has lost to the entertainment of…well, the capitol. the parade was over and she was walking around, greeting people who she thought she should make her presence known to. In her eye shot she saw the one woman she detested more than any one. she looked down at her tattoo. 𝒶𝓇𝒾𝒶𝒹𝓃𝑒. her aunt. her best friend. district one. third place. 59th hunger games. and in her eyes was the woman who one who not only won, but killed her to get there. she continued walk and she shoved her with her shoulder before turning around to scoff, “sorry. didn’t see you there.”
Ravinia was thrilled to be in the Capitol to watch the Parade. The pomp and the glamor, the ritz and the sizzle - it left her with a permanent, beaming smile on her face. And how majestic the District Two Tributes had looked! Not as good as she had back in her day, of course. But nonetheless, they were fabulous.
Ravi allowed herself one moment of fond remembrance. Her own Tribute Parade, the warm applause of the adoring crowd, the way Caesar’s hair changed color overnight. Ravi almost got lost, but was snapped back to the present by the man in front of her. “Oh, yes, fabulous!” she replied, hoping it was appropriate. The man smiled and excused himself - hopefully Ravi had secured some funding for her Tributes. She took a sip from an oversized champagne flute when someone roughly passed behind her, nearly causing her to spill her wine.
She turned to see the lovely Stefania Dugue - now there was a throwback to her own Games. “Oh, as I live and breathe! Stefania Dugue!” Ravi raised her glass in a small salute. “I feel like I haven’t seen you in ages. How have you been? I am obsessed with the Tributes from One this year. They looked marvelous in their chariots. Not quite as good as my Theodore and Grier, but not too bad, not too bad.” She gave a roguish wink and sipped at her wine. “Ready to see District One fall to District Two again?”
It was Ravi’s favorite time of year. Finally, the Games were upon them, and it was as if her own Victory Tour had finally returned home. She could remember it clearly: the adoring crowds of some districts, the solemn but venerable looks from others. The pride of her home district. The look in the eyes of the mayor at the time.
And now, all these years later, here she was. She was the mayor, the victorious, the one beaming with pride. Her personal stylist had made her up to perfection for the event. Bright pinks and gaudy purples were brought directly from the Capitol for her. Ravinia looked herself over in a mirror - never had she looked this good. With a final touch of a shimmering gold necklace, she was ready to watch the Reaping ceremony. Not from the crowd, but this time from the stage.
All of the citizens were there. A set of chairs lined the back of the stage for various important people from the district - board members, council members, big donors, and Capitolites to work with the lucky two. And the podium, with it’s shining silver microphone. First up was her speech. She approached the podium, excitement radiating from her flashy smile. No matter how many years she served as mayor, she was never able to resist the thrill of opening the Games.
“Citizens of District Two,” she began. “It gives me such incredible pleasure to welcome you to this year’s Reaping Ceremony! Every year, two brave Tributes march forth to bring glory to our home. Two Tributes every year go out for the chance of a lifetime - to win riches, honor, and respect. To remind us of the horrors of the uprisings. To inspire us to unity. To bring together all of Panem in peace. And today, we will select those two Tributes who will do all this, and be recorded in the tomes of history for their bravery.”
A spattering of applause rang out. “It is my honor, as your Mayor, and former Victor, to announce the opening of the Reaping Ceremony!” With a wave of her hand, a small confetti cannon launched, rousing more cheers. Ravinia smiled her most winning smile before introducing the typical video from the Capitol. She almost teared up at the beauty of it, and the inspiration she took from it. Again, she thought back to her own Reaping, and the rush of adrenaline she got from volunteering. What joy! What incredible pride!
Ravi took her seat as the escort this year approached the giant bowls that held this year’s blessed names. Not that it mattered too much; volunteers who had been training for this moment would certainly take their spots. Ravinia quivered in anticipation. She had been in contact with all the top training schools, and had her own favorites for who would volunteer. As always, District Two was a top contender.
First, the ladies. The escort dropped her hand in, pulled out a card, then, in a timid voice, called out, “TIFFANIA BRONZON.” It only took a few moments for the cry of, “I volunteer as Tribute!” to echo out. From the back of the crowd, a determined woman was ushered onto the stage. “And what is your name?” the escort asked.
“Grier Gunn.” An almost vicious smile crossed the girls face, and Ravi smirked behind her. This was excellent. Grier Gunn was the daughter of Melora Gunn - a Victor that Ravi herself looked up to. It was always an honor to see families follow in each other’s footsteps to glory. “I got sick of watching everyone else have all the fun. I’ve been ready to get in there. Now I get to show you.”
Ravi could not be more thrilled by the female Tribute. Now, who would the male be? The escort snatched a card out of the bowl and read, “THEODORE KWON.” A tall, burly man was slowly escorted towards the stage. Ravi’s face shifted to one of confusion. Was no one going to volunteer? This was highly unusual for District Two.
Theodore made it all the way to the stage without anyone stepping forward. Ravi gave him a look over - clearly he had been training for the Games. He had the build for victory. Perhaps he was the one who had been chosen to volunteer, and by chance his name had been called. It was still odd - if that had happened during Ravi’s Ceremony, she would have jumped on the opportunity to volunteer in place of the trainer-chosen favorite. Luckily, she had been the favorite and had volunteered in place of Basil Morteum. But, she guessed, things can change over time. Theodore Kwon was the chosen male, and no one came forward when the escort asked for volunteers. There could be worse choices than him, Ravi supposed.
The anthem of Panem played, and Ravinia couldn’t help the single tear of pride that rolled down her cheek. How she wanted to take the two new Tributes in her arms and hug them! But decorum and tradition demanded they be whisked into the capital building for their goodbyes, and then straight onto the train towards the Capitol. She would have no opportunity to wish them luck or give them advice.
As the two were taken inside, Ravinia made a silent promise to them: she would help however she could. Sponsorship, letters of recommendation, calls and meals and deals. She may no longer be allowed in the Arena herself (how she wished she could go back!), but that didn’t mean she couldn’t impact the Games.
hi there! i’m m- coming in with ravinia lux and oxford d’witt. it’s been years since i’ve done a roleplay on tumblr - literally six or more - so i’m pumped to jump back in! first up, lemmie introduce you to my killing machine:
RAVINIA LUX --- DISTRICT TWO
[ LUCY LIU, CISFEMALE, SHE/HERS. ] hey, that’s r a v i n i a l u x from district 2. she’s pretty well known around those parts for being the current mayor and victor of the 59th hunger games. the hunger games fills her with gritty pride, especially since she’s 41 years old, but she’ll be watching — everyone always does. anyways, if you’re looking for her, i hear she reminds everyone of chiseled marble, pack hunting, bloody hands, and a victorious smile.
Ravinia squatted beside the river, scooping handfuls of water to her mouth. The clear water instantly revitalized her, and the spark jumped to her eyes. It was time, and she knew it. If anyone knew it, it was her. She was ready.
As if on cue, Ravi looked up at a figure staggering towards her. Her lips curled upward. It was almost pitiful, seeing this person struggle towards the river. Almost not worth Ravi’s time. But it was a person. A weakling. Her prey.
Ravi didn’t feel threatened. She slowly began approaching the figure in the distance. As the space between them shortened, the person took form. Short. Short hair. Female. Oh - Zara Watts, the pathetic District Five woman. Ravi’s teeth showed through her smile.
"So," she called to the girl as they approached each other. "Zara. How have you been?" Ravi twirled the knife in her fingers, her body aching to start the killing. She knew this would be no fight. Zara was weak to begin, and after days, the arena had taken its toll on the woman. "Are you ready to begin?"
There was no pretense. Barely any lead up. But that’s how Ravi wanted it. She wanted this now. There was no need to sugar coat what was about to happen - Ravi had known the outcome as soon as she had figured out who her opponent was. With a laugh - and without waiting for a reply - Ravi barreled forward, letting her knife hand lash out viciously.
Zara seemed entranced as this hallucination rushed her. It was laughable. And she did just that - Zara laughed. It made Ravinia angry. Nobody laughed at a greeting from Ravi. Her smile turned into a snarl as the knife slashed across her chest. Zara looked down at the wound and laughed.
"Are you insane, woman?" Ravi snapped. "Fight back!" The knife lashed out again, catching Zara in the arm. The blood brought about more laughter. Ravi crouched, ready for the woman to attack at any moment.
"This is the problem with these Games - no of you imbeciles want to be here. None of you are worth the time." Ravi was fuming. "So many pretty girls thrown in here, and all you do is stand around. Walk, laugh, cry. Worthless! Fight! Fight goddammit!"
Zara did nothing of the kind. She simply looked at her bleeding body with laughter rolling out of her lungs. Ravinia pounced, knocking Zara to the ground. She placed the knife against the woman's jugular, not worried about how much of a gash she was making.
"Are you going to fight? Are you going to be worth my time?" Ravi's let her face approach Zara's. She briefly let her lips meet Zara's ear. "Are you?"
On cue, Zara shrieked in glee. Her body bounced as blood and giggles escaped. Ravi stood up to look at the mess on the ground - a convulsing, speechless wreck of a woman.
"Goddammit, woman." She kicked Zara in the head, but the pain was transformed into laughter. "Fine. FINE!" Ravi fell to her knees, bringing the point of the blade down into Zara's chest. With a final giggle, blood bubbled over the woman's lips and a cannon sounded.
"Worthless," Ravinia muttered as she stood, taking the knife with her. "Absolutely worthless."
Days went by and as they continued to pass, the hope of getting out hadn’t broughten Zara as much satisfaction as she would have liked. Her energy was dwindling, and she knew that she had to get some nutrition in her body or her body was going to continue shutting down in an exponential manner. She needed hydration, and she needed it quickly.
The glamor of the Games had worn out quickly. Zara lost her bite and any will to fight. If she did make it out, she was sure to be ridden with years of post traumatic stress disorder. Advancing in her career, her only goal prior to the Games, would be near impossible. Her life was ruined and she hated herself for letting these Games to that to her. The Capitol - her Capitol, had ruined her.
After days in the arena, she knew that there were only a few water sources in the arena, and she needed to get to get there as soon as possible. However, as she neared the source, she noticed a figure in the distance. From how far away she was, it was impossible to tell if it was a male or figure, or maybe she was hallucinating and there wasn’t anyone there at all.
Ravinia squatted beside the river, scooping handfuls of water to her mouth. The clear water instantly revitalized her, and the spark jumped to her eyes. It was time, and she knew it. If anyone knew it, it was her. She was ready.
As if on cue, Ravi looked up at a figure staggering towards her. Her lips curled upward. It was almost pitiful, seeing this person struggle towards the river. Almost not worth Ravi's time. But it was a person. A weakling. Her prey.
Ravi didn't feel threatened. She slowly began approaching the figure in the distance. As the space between them shortened, the person took form. Short. Short hair. Female. Oh - Zara Watts, the pathetic District Five woman. Ravi's teeth showed through her smile.
"So," she called to the girl as they approached each other. "Zara. How have you been?" Ravi twirled the knife in her fingers, her body aching to start the killing. She knew this would be no fight. Zara was weak to begin, and after days, the arena had taken its toll on the woman. "Are you ready to begin?"
There was no pretense. Barely any lead up. But that's how Ravi wanted it. She wanted this now. There was no need to sugar coat what was about to happen - Ravi had known the outcome as soon as she had figured out who her opponent was. With a laugh - and without waiting for a reply - Ravi barreled forward, letting her knife hand lash out viciously.
Checking to make sure Killian was safely asleep in the tree next to her, Ravi began her slow ascent to the ground. He was a good partner. It was true. But she was restless. He wanted to stay hidden for a while longer while the weaker Tributes killed themselves off; after all, it was about the time of Games when deaths picked up again.
But that wasn't Ravi's style. No - she was a huntress. She wouldn't stand for this idle sitting in the trees. A few days had passed, and she was hungry. Not physically, because the leaves of the tree proved edible, and locusts carcasses were abundant. No, she had bloodlust, and she could feel it.
She had considered killing Killian. The two of them had built up a rapport over the many days in the tree together. They could joke and smile at each other now. But it had crossed her mind, once or twice. How easy it would be to push him from his limb as she kept the night watch. How easy it would be to strangle him while he slept, or slip one of her knives across his throat. It would have been so simple to do it.
But Killian was a good competitor. It would be shameful, verging on honorless, to kill him in his sleep. No, if she was to end his life, it would be in a proper fight, after their agreement. She wouldn't kill him without valor. But still, the ache itched under the skin of her fingers. She couldn't help but smile as she remembered Mathias' breath bubbling out of his mouth, or the way Alayne slumped sideways. She needed another cannon. And if it wasn't going to be Killian's, she needed to move. She needed to hunt.
Ravinia silently landed on the forest floor with her knife in hand. Many of the bugs were beginning to rot, and soon they would be worthless for food, so she munched a few down before trekking out. The rotting bodies let out an awful stench, but she knew it would mask her approach - a Tribute worried about the smell wouldn't be thinking about the sound of someone walking. Still, she had to be careful. The insects made for nasty crunching noises underfoot.
Ravinia found her way to the river and slowly started padding along its length. She knew the bugs were salty; someone would want water. And the river was the prime place to get it.
Ravinia and Killian helped each other up the entire tree, until they were sitting as far as up as they could possibly go. Glancing down below them, Killian could see the dark mass of insects slowing starting dissipate as they were either called back to their homes by the Gamemakers or as they moved on to find another victim.
For a moment, they sat in complete silence. Killian was unsure of Ravinia’s reasoning for remaining so silent, but he knew for him that it was because he was still struggling to comprehend what had just happened. After all, everything had happened so fast.
As the shock began to ware away and Killian regained full composure, he looked over at his partner and surveyed her quickly. From what he could tell, she had suffered from only minor bites like he had, but he could never be so sure. “Are you okay?” He paused for a second. “Y-You don’t think they were poisonous, were they? Not like those tracker jackers they had a couple of years ago?” He couldn’t help but shudder at the thought of those poor tributes, so many years ago, who had been driven insane by the mad hallucinations the tracker jackers had caused. In more than one cases, the bites had resulted in horrible deaths.
As they beat the bugs up the tree, Ravinia watched as the swarm moved on. Almost instantly, the thud of a cannon sounded. Had they been that close to another being? Someone else who was more susceptible to the voracious appetite of the insects? It didn’t matter; they were safe.
They.
She was aware after a moment that Killian was still with her. He could have had any number of chances to push her out of the tree to her death. And she could have done the same to him. But neither had. That had to mean something. She looked at him for a long time, saying nothing. They had had each other’s lives literally in their hands, and they had pulled each other up. How interesting, for two Careers.
And then something even more peculiar happened. Killian asked if she was alright. After staring at him for a moment longer, she laughed. It couldn’t be helped. The two of them – two of the most feared Tributes in the Games – had survived by helping each other, and now they were showing concern for each other? It was ludicrous. It was insane.
But it was what was happening, and Ravinia felt the same way.
She nodded. “Yeah, I’m fine. You should be too, by the looks of it.” At his second question, she shook her head. “No, I don’t think so. If they were, you’d be going crazy by now. Remember a few years ago? Some of those kids were hallucinating after one sting. We both got bit a few times. It stings, but I think that’s the worst of it.” Another cannon boomed. “At least, the worst for us.”
As yet more cannons fired around the arena, Ravinia let herself relax in the tree. “I suppose we should get moving soon, shouldn’t we?” She thought aloud. But a second thought struck her after a moment, that slipped past her lips before she could stop it. “What would you do with the Victorhood, Killian?”
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