District Nine's Victors: the 3rd Quarter Quell 🌾
information under the read-more, content warning for brief mentions of disordered eating and (semi)religious extremism
@foxiesashum thank you for the suggestion! i hope you like these two of my Nines :D
Vainglory Jay, 43rd Games, 49y.o. at QQ3
motif: border collie
Vainglory is District Nine's third Victor, mentored by Avarice Prairie. Both raised in one of Nine's semi-religious sects, Vainglory very much internalised the ideals of self-control and stewardship of others to an unhealthy degree. Raised by emotionally neglectful parents, Vainglory idolised Avarice Prairie and detested the behaviour of other Victors, as well as people he perceived as giving Nine its bad reputation. He Volunteered at 16 years old to become an example of 'the best of Nine', and confessed to his mentor, Avarice, that he had killed once before the Games, a 'necessary evil' as the victim was living a lifestyle he found unacceptable.
His weapon of choice were throwing hatchets. Post-Victory, Vainglory developed an eating disorder to cope with the lack of control he felt, but refuses to acknowledge the unhealthiness and believes he is merely providing an example of self-control. He is very much a Capitol loyalist.
Combe 'Honey' Holland, 55th Games, 35y.o. at QQ3
motif: greater honeyguide
Combe is District Nine's fourth Victor, mentored by Vainglory Jay. Unlike the majority of Nine's Victors, Combe was raised in a fairly urban area of the District and worked in food processing, primarily oils.
Born hard of hearing, Combe's parents luckily worked in a sector of Nine with a sizeable deaf/hard of hearing population (many from rural areas who moved for the support that more isolated communities could not offer), and the family was able to learn the local dialect of sign language. Despite Nine's pervasive attitude of hopelessness, Combe grew up more hopeful than despairing, hope that grew into anger at the Capitol and at the other Districts for the life she felt stuck in.
Reaped at 15, Combe used herself as bait to lead her arena's mutts towards other tributes, or to trick tributes into dangerous areas. After surviving multiple stings and bites from venomous mutts, Combe's immune system was compromised and she often experiences symptoms similar to allergic reactions that leave her dependent on Capitol medication. She has a close friendship with Nine's fifth Victor whom she mentored, Sweet Adkisson, and there are speculations the two are in a romantic relationship.
Reaping for the 75th Games
Nine's Victors did not expect any one of them to Volunteer for the other - an unspoken agreement that what would be, would be. In my mind, the Reaping for the 75th was rigged, and both Vainglory and Combe have reasons to have been reaped. Vainglory as a Capitol loyalist was considered likely to counteract the criticism of other Reaped Victors with his praise of the Capitol, and in general was kind of freaking audiences out - no one would really be too sad to see him go. Combe was Nine's most rebellious (living) Victor and her Victory, using the mutts against other tributes, was perceived by some as a rebellious act, similar to Haymitch's forcefield trick. Despite threats towards (and murders of) members of her family, Combe did not seem adequately manageable, and killing her off in the Games was acceptable retribution.
Both died in the Bloodbath, Vainglory being physically weak and disliked by many of the Victors, and Combe not having access to her medication, as well as also not being particularly well-liked. Despite being rebellious, she was not a part of the rebel plot as she held similar levels of vitriol towards the other Districts as she held towards the Capitol.
Thanks for reading xoxo