My name is Tia, from District 6. I plan on winning these Games, but if I don't, I'll be dead. Yeah, dead. Because only one of us comes out, alive. But I am not afraid of death. So, I'm not afraid of you.
Tia Monday / 15 / District 6 Tribute / Resides in the Capitol / Alive
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It had never occurred to Kalla that relaxation would be so necessary with a full schedule of training. Her muscles ached, knuckles sore, and even her back was in pain, strangely because she always made a point to sit with perfect posture. But no, she needed to constantly be training, constantly becoming better physically and mentally. But what if the one thing you needed to do was really destroying you? Of course, there had been times when Kalla witnessed such a great deterioration, but could not recognize it on herself. Fine, she would allow herself twenty minutes in the lobby, but she would be reading up on plants as she did so. Settling down on one of the chairs no one ever used, she began to dig deep into her book.
Tia always found time to train. Tributes were encouraged to train in one of the training rooms, especially since they had a longer time period from the usual, days of training. Tia knew she had to have an amount of concentration during it, but she also found it entertaining. It was, really, the only thing she did for fun, back home. If not, doing whatever else she wanted to do, living in a wealthy household. But because she trained herself to fight and kill, she found herself not always having to train every hour of every minute. She decided to wander the training center, not particularly paying any attention, until she spotted another tribute. She remembered faces from districts, but not names. Looking down to the floor, Tia stopped, noticing a small pebble. Barely noticeable. She smirked at the pebble, an idea playing in her head. She picked up the pebble, and looked at the girl. Her eyes were so glued to the book, she wouldn't noticed. She lightly threw the pebble, high up in the air, just in the right place for it to land on one of it's pages."What does that book tell you? How to become, victor?" she asked with a small smirk, before walking over to her.Â
Tia's dark eyes watched the mounted tv screen, televising tribute interviews before her. She rarely took her eyes away from it. Her feet aching from standing on heels for too long, caused her to occasionally place her hand on the wall, leaning on it for balance. Looking down at her feet to make sure they were pointing, forward. As the line got shorter, she felt her hand cup around her wrist, gently rubbing the surface of her fingers against it, while still trying to be mindful of her longer fake fingernails.
She kept telling herself, the interview would be easy. She acquired a twelve from private training. A twelve. She thought the score spoke for itself. What else could they possibly want to know about the girl without a family? Even though she knew most of the conversation was one-sided, Tia tried to ask Redd, Six's mentor, for advice on the interview. Being sociable and liked by others, wasn't her strong point. Redd's advice was to simply use her weakness to her advantage. She had no idea what he was talking about, until she stood in line for the interview.
"Let's all give a warm and cheering welcome to our next tribute, Tia Monday!"
The bright lights and cheers of the crowd, overtook Tia. She stood tall as she walked at a moderate pace, but halfway there, she slowed her pace. Staring out into the crowd. How foreign it was to her to have anyone, remotely like her. Smile Tia, she told herself. Instead, she thought of a better idea. She mimicked one of the faces she made at the crowd, during the parade, and the crowd loved it. She sat down, across from Caesar, sitting straight. Figures, she thought.
"Alright, alright, calm down!" Caesar started, towards the crowd, still laughing. "They love your facial expressions. They might make a trend out of you." Tia smiled, lowering her head then raising it to look back at Caesar. He exhaled, before speaking again:"Well, hello Tia! How are you doing on this fine evening in Panem?" There was a small pause, but it only lasted seconds."Wonderful. I'm doing, wonderful."
"That's great to hear!" Caesar replied. Tia pursed her lips, looking out to the crowd as he asked his second question: "How do you find the Capitol? Strange to where you grew up? Do you like it here?" "It's different," she started, turning back to face Caesar, "strange. The way you like it here, is the way I like it in District 6." Every word she said, she sounded, strong. Answering with only as few words as possible. Let them guess who the girl really was."Then you must really love it in your District, because we love it here, now don't we?" Caesar asked the crowd. The crowd cheered, and Tia only gave a small smile.
"Now, forgive me if Iâm coming off a little strong, but what is it like losing both of your parents at once? I have here that they were recently murdered. Together." Tia looked down to the floor. She wondered if Caesar would ask about her parents. Fortunately, because she thought of the possibility ahead of time, she had the perfect answer for it. She toyed with the crowd's emotions, taking a dramatic pause as she kept her eyes on the floor. She thought back to time when kids at school would say, hurtful things to her and the way she felt. The memory helped to give her eyes that glossy look, in the light."Tia?" Caesar asked, once. Seeing her head still lowered, he placed his hand on hers."Tia?" he asked again. The entire audience was silent. She forced her lips to slightly tremble, before inhaling as she raised her head to look at Cesar. Her eyes were watery, but solemn. Strong."There are no words to describe what it's like." The crowd's breath was taken away, some sniffling. Tia looked away again, just waving her hand as if to wave the question away and move onto the next.
Caesar took his hand away. "Do you miss them? What was it like growing up with them?" Tia hadn't thought this far ahead, but she had to answer the question. Here, she thought of Pate. As if she was talking to him."Yes," she lied."They were respected people and they loved me. Up until the day they were killed, I couldn't ask for a better childhood." The audience awed and cheered from her last statement. Even Caesar clapped his hands. "Wow. Iâm sorry that it happened. If you win, you will get a larger house and more money you would have gotten from them anyways-" "Wait!" Tia interrupted. "There's something else I need to say!" Caesar looked at her, confused. Turning to face the crowd, they had similar expressions on their faces. Tia gulped. She didn't have anything else to say, but spat out the statement, anyway. She randomly thought of something she thought was funny, from a magazine she read:"Pate!" she called out, like he was in the crowd.".....I'll sand your wich."
Everyone was lost."It's a joke...an inside joke." From that, erupted laughter that Tia couldn't understand, but would gladly take."I wish you all the best. Tia Monday: District Six!" Caesar ended, chuckling. Tia rose from her seat, smiling at the crowd before leaving the stage.
This was good. Everyone here had spoken their turn, and it seemed they all were waiting on him now. They all had their points, but they all also had flaws in their ideas. Tia, while she was right those who die should die and not hold us back, but he knew none of these people would be dying in the bloodbath. Tia, strong and powerful would make her way to the top, he had no doubt. Ryan, while timid was strong. He could break through any barrier. Both mentally and physically. Morganâs confidence would be enough to scare another tribute away alone, but she was also incredibly loyal even if she didnât know that herself. Pate sighed. âNo, thereâs definitely strength in numbers, and I donât think jumping in there alone is exactly the best idea." Pausing at the window, he looked across the Capitol skyline. Itâs odd shapes made him feel sick, strangely. âIâm not worried about the Careers. They all seem pretty weak. That Jackson kidâs too invested in himself to stay alive. Talent? He doesnât care enough and Amber? She seems like a threat, but not enough. She would be the one to make the simple mistake that kills her in the end." Pate shrugged, looking at all of them now. âI say we go in, grab our weapons and maybe some survival stuff, two of us gets packs and two others get first aid. Then we run together to the nearest water source." He glanced at Tia. âOr at least near each other," his gaze shifting awkwardly away from her judgmental eyes. He wondered what she was thinking about him.
Tia, still standing with her arms crossed, listened to the rest of what the alliance had to say. Morgan's thoughts on the plan for the bloodbath were...interesting. Tia couldn't say she liked being called 'mad dogging self', confusion showing across her face, borderline annoyance. Then, the thing she said about Ryan. I don't want to know, she internally told herself. Ryan had some pretty useful things to say, but two things he said stuck out to her: Flora, and possibly being the biggest alliance in the arena. It was funny to see how she's actually started to get along with her, and now she would see her as an opponent, once again. Being the biggest alliance in the arena put a smile on Tia's face. Good? That was superb.
And then full circle back to Pate. Tia found it easier to look at him when he wasn't looking back, at her girl look at that body (I'm sorry it literally came to me while writing). The idea of going in alone seemed to be cut down by now, but Tia could live with that. Not worrying about the Careers was a new one. As he continued to speak, Tia kept her eyes focused on him. She was just trying to take in everything he was saying, when he finished with "Or at least near each other." For some reason, his words rubbed her the wrong way and she narrowed her eyes at him. "We shouldn't be that far away from each other," she replied to Pate firmly, uncrossing her arms. She spoke as if they were the only two in the apartment, staring at him with a slight pained look in her eyes. Remembering Morgan and Ryan in the room, she suddenly responded so it didn't sound weird: "since we're a team and we all want to work together..." It was still quiet. Her words were rushed as she made her way, away from the group: "That doesn't sound like a bad plan. Okay I'll get one of the packs. Then we'll all go to the water source. Yup. Sounds good. Is anyone else, hot? It's burning up in here. I'm going to get some water. I'm just going to be over here, guys."
Tia randomly found water, sitting on the table. She didn't care whose it was, she just started drinking it. She hoped someone would say something again, as she put distance between them so the slight redness on her face she could feel from embarrassment would quickly go away.
As far as Tobin was concerned, life in the Capitol wasnât so different from what heâd faced in his own district. Sure, everything was fancier and more controlled. There was a sense of carefree oblivion but none of it reached Tobin. Here he faced the all the same things he always had: rejection and isolation. He usually didnât mind being alone but the training center had a way of making solitude even more miserable than it should have been. Tobin was already a ghost but he imagined the other tributes knew what it felt like to be one simply by being here. They were days away from death anyway. Everyone, that was, except for Kalla. She would get out alive at any cost. He owed her that and so much more but it didnât help that she kept pushing him away. At a loss for what else to do, heâd returned to the garden he and Axel had found some time ago. He used the excuse of wanting fresh air but, in all reality, he would do pretty much anything to avoid going back to the floor he shared with Kalla and the mentor who likely hated him just as much. Sighing, heâd settled on a bench and began to let his mind wander. It wasnât long after that when a girl about Kallaâs age walked by. She seemed rushed and a little upset so Toby let her pass without so much as a second glance. If she wanted space, he wasnât going to get in her way. The garden was certainly big enough to share; but then she turned around. And, before he knew it, she was seated on the bench beside him and glaring as though he were to blame for whatever troubles she sought to escape. He was used to getting that look from Kalla these days but now it actually hurt. Heâd never even met this girl and she had been the one to approach him, not the other way around. When she sighed, he echoed it and immediately regretted making that sound. It might have seemed like he was mocking her. He wasnât but now he was staring right back and it would be even more uncomfortable not to say something. With obvious tension and discomfort, Tobin murmured in painful awkwardness. âSo, itâs kind of nice out here." It almost sounded like a question. He expected the girl would either walk away or order him to do so. One was more appealing than the other for sure but he swore not to question whatever happened next.
Seeing the boy tribute obviously staring back at her, made the whole situation, incredibly awkward. As if she hadn't had her fair share of awkwardness with tributes, ever since she stepped foot into the Capitol. Why doesn't he look away or something? Because I'm not doing it, she thought, feeling herself internally, groan. The silence between them was suddenly broken, when he murmured something. She narrowed her eyes at him: " Yeah...it is....I guess," she replied in a somewhat quiet tone. Tia leaned back, facing forward. She crossed one leg in front of the other, before crossing her arms against her chest. She sighed deeply, looking for something in the garden to distract herself. She turned her head to the side, knowing she could just up and leave, but that would just make an awkward exit. And make it twenty times more awkward. She slowly turned her head back to the boy. She was quiet for a few seconds, before realizing: "You're the boy from Five, aren't you?" It wasn't a mind-blowing question, but it was a start.
Traditional Martial Artists made small hissing and calls at points in a movement, but Pate wasnât into that. Sensai understood, it would give away his location in the arena. As Tia ran toward him, he readied himself to jump away. Pushing up with all of his might, he twisted around horizontal to the floor, flipped over, and landed back on his feet to the left of his original position. Any type of blow Tia attempted would have gotten only air. This caused confusion on her end, and he smirked again at her before taking his staff and readying himself. His weapon was a peaceful instrument. Not used to strike unless necessary, it was used to block, and protect.
Her attempt at swinging her mace to the lower side of Pate's chest had failed, only hearing the swiping movement in the air, twice. Tia's whole body turned, full circle, before she put her foot down to stop her movement. She shook her head, turning to see he had moved. Confused. She nodded slightly towards him, as if to say "not bad", before letting one of her hands grip the mace, while bringing her left foot forward, she stomped on one of his feet. She knew she didn't have much time before Pate would start swinging, so she started continuously swinging, hands together on the handle of the mace. Upward and downward. Side to side, while trying to keep them both in close quarters, by digging her shoe into his WOW that's awkward.
Tia needed a quiet place to think again, away from people, so she chose the garden. She liked going up to the roof of the training center to think, but since the kiss with Pate up there and the strain on whatever kind of friendship they had, she stopped going to the roof. A walk around the garden didn't sound that hard, but once she started walking through the canopies of greenery, she felt out of place. Everywhere she looked, it was beautiful. Innocent looking and clean of anything filthy. Tia thought about how she could never be equivalent to this. She would belong if there was blood spilled, somewhere. By her own hands. She pushed the thought to the back of her mind as she continued to walk. She started to pick up her pace when she saw another tribute, sitting on one of the benches. She didn't want to speak to him and rushed off past him, just to suddenly, stop in her tracks. Sighing, she turned around and sat on the bench, across from him. She sat to the far right of the bench, glancing at him, unsure of what to say.
As Flora stood, watching the girl, and following her gaze to the instructor she realised how insane she truly seemed. One touch and she shied away so suddenly that she almost toppled into the fire, and then having attempted to fend off attack with a stick, scrambled to her feet. Now she was stood, a few steps away from Tia. She could see the girls own upset at her reaction and a slight stab of guilt rand through her. Tia was trying, something she herself should be doing but instead she was allowing herself to act like this. Shaking her head and shuffling forward a couple of steps she tried to undo the damage she had already done. âNo, please. Iâm sorry. I was just shocked. I am not good with contact and hadnât expected it." The way the girl has spoken stuck with her, Tiaâs voice loosing its normal tone and instead replaced by the quiet sound she now heard. âTia, please, let me have a chance to make amends. I donât want to end on bad terms with you."
Hearing Flora speak, Tia slowly raised her head, even though she so badly wanted to continue to stare at her playful fingers. This wasn't a comfortable situation. As Flora spoke of not being good with contact, she couldn't help but think: You and me, Flora. Because contact would mean being around people. Being around people isn't something I really...do. Speaking of amends, Tia wanted to stop her there, but let her finish. When Flora finished, she simply answered: "No." She breathed out, beginning to explain herself, looking straight into the girl's eyes: " I don't want to end on bad terms with you either, but I don't want this whole 'I'll do something to make this situation better' because then I'll owe you again, and it'll just go back-and-forth-it needs to stop." she breathed out again. She thought that was what Flora meant. " I...I'm not trying to be mean or anything, I just-" she paused again, trying to think of the right words to say, but nothing good came from the pause. " What happened....happened." was all the response she could really muster. She was quiet again, pausing, letting her eyes fall to the floor before looking back up. " Maybe we should move on to another station?" she asked as a suggestion.
Pate was just about to say something to Tia when the loud knock sounded at the door. They stared at each other for a long moment before the loud drumming began. That must be Morgan. Seeing that Tia wasnât exactly jumping to get the door, Pate shoved himself up and opened the door. Both Morgan and Rye stood outside the door. âHey guys, come on in." He held the door open and the two of them filed in. âYou can just go over by Tia and we can talk about the bloodbath." He nodded, mostly to himself and shut the door. Striding into the room with his infamous limp, he clasped his hands out in front of him and immediately began business. âWe need to talk about how the blood bath is going to work. Are we going into the cornucopia together, alone? Will we kill? Will we be killed?" Pausing, he let that reality settle in before speaking again. âI assume we all have done our training on our own time. But what we need to do together is the mental training. Strategies. Understanding. Knowledge." As he spoke, Pate paced around the room touching the wall briefly, grazing the back of a chair no one sat or stood near, little things to keep the movement in the room alive.
Catching a glance of Pate answering the door, Tia sighed to herself, crossing her arms against he chest. She tried to ready herself, to think you're not talking to the President, but you're not exactly talking to people you like or know. Come to think of it, I don't like people. She shook her head of the thoughts, and tried to bury them when she turned to get a look at their allies. She eyed them both, up and down, skipping her own introduction seeing as it wasn't important right now. She turned to listen to Pate, waiting for him to finish, before she'd answer. Her eyes avoided her allies, as she spoke: " I don't see why we can't go into the cornucopia, alone," she started, "if we all go into the cornucopia, we should all be ready to kill. Honestly, if any one of us are killed during the bloodbath, that person should be dead. Because then they wouldn't slow the rest of the alliance down, as they play the Game." Tia's words were cold, but deep down, she was in it to win it. "Fight our way in to get what we want and kill whoever gets in the way. Come back together to see what everyone has. Then decide if we want to stay at the cornucopia or move out. We probably should keep moving. Between the four of us, sponsors have to like at least two of us, and we could probably survive with food and water. If we don't already collect it from the leftovers in the cornucopia. Or we don't find food or water that's safe to drink, in the arena I don't know," she shrugged, "something like that. Unless someone has a better idea?" Tia glanced at her allies, leaving it open for someone else to say something.
Flora kept her facing ahead, looking past the fire her eyes settling on nothing in particular. She clenched her hands into fist at her sides. The small silence that settled between them was short lived when Tia spoke up, her own self actualizing retort doing nothing to settle Flora. She shook her heard stifly, letting the words come out. rehearsed and without expression. Just like she had back home. âOrders are to be followed. Choices are to be made. Only a leader has choices, only the strong. Those who are weak follow the strong so I must follow the orders I am given. To object is to defy, and to defy is to surely ask for disgrace and death." Sitting there, looking forward at the wall she let her eyes focus on the small writhes of dark smoke. She had picked up one of the larger pieces of wood, holding it in a white knuckled grip as she spoke. When she felt the hand on her shoulder she flinched away a small shocked sound escaping her lips. Flora almost fell into her fire as she covered her head with one arm and held out the wood with the other as a feeble defense. After a moment she lowered her arm, and dropped the wood, realising her reaction. âI-IâŠ" Feeling sick at her own weakness she got to her feet stumbling slightly, tripping over her own feet as she took a few steps away from the girl.
Her eyebrows raised in surprise, not only from Flora's flinching movement, but also from the words she had said. Tia wasn't sure what to say. The words sounded ingrained into her system, and it didn't sound like anything would change her mind. She guessed they would never see eye to eye with the words the girl had just spoken, and wanted so badly to argue it, but didn't. Tia watched as Flora nearly fell forward into the fire, impulsively reaching her same hand to her shoulder again, but stopped short when she saw she was okay. Why did I do that? she asked herself. It wasn't like she usually wanted to help others that easily. Tia only lowered her arm as she watched Flora dropher defense and stumble to get back on her feet. Her eyes fell to the floor, wondering if she should say something or leave the girl, be. She looked up to see the instructor, judging her with his eyes. "What are you looking at?" she asked, before throwing a piece of wood that held flames at him. She turned away and got back on her feet, while the trainer briefly juggled the wood in his hands. "Umm..." Tia started, playing with her fingers again. " You...don't....have to say anything. I guess we all have our own....stuff....to deal with." She looked up to Flora, even with her back turned to her: "Sorry about the shoulder, thing. Won't happen again." she said, quietly
TEAM AWESOME YEAH! | Order: Pate, Tia, Morgan, Ryan
Earlier in the day, Pate had gone to Tiaâs door, and knocked on it to wake her up. It had been a few days since heâd seen her, but he didnât really care about their kiss. It was something they could discuss at another time, but for now, with the games so close, they needed to talk strategy with their other allies. âHey, get up. Iâm going to tell everyone to come down here soon," he called through the door, and hopefully she was awake and heard him. Shrugging it off, he went to Morganâs flat first, and told her to come within the next hour or so, and the same to Ryan.
He stood in the television room, arms crossed, Tia at his side. An awkward silence engulfed the room. Their mentor was excited that they actually were working together (more than she knew) and that they actually had allies. Still, here they stood allowing the only physical contact they ever shared ruin their friendship that never really did exist. Clearing his throat, he turned to her to speak, but dropped the thought after a few seconds and faced forward again. âSo uh, how.. howâs it hanginâ?" Howâs it hanginâ? Pate Hamming was committing social suicide and Tia would have a front row seat to laugh at his foolishness.
Tia was sitting criss-crossed on the edge of her bed, pressing a button on the remote, over and over and over. She watched as the windows view changed from background to background, never finding what she was looking for. Suddenly, she heard a knock on the door and Pate's voice:  âHey, get up. Iâm going to tell everyone to come down here soon," Tia groaned, falling back on her bed. Great  She was going to have to talk to people, again. But at least it was for their alliance. To talk about the Games. That fact alone made her get up, get dressed in some outfit she liked, and leave her room.
She grabbed something quick to eat, before standing beside Pate. She found herself, playing with her fingers, during the awkward silence. Tia honestly just wanted one of their allies to knock on the door. She had so much to say to him before, and now she was at a loss of words. Hearing Pate's question, Tia chuckled, shaking her head. And I thought I was bad. "Pate-" she sighed, but was interrupted by a knock at the door.
Smiling despite her usual resolutions to steer away from expression, especially around those like Tia, Flora commended herself on her ability to even out the prior debt. She had nothing against the girl, well no more than the healthy dose of competitor distaste, but Flora did not want the weight of the deal on her shoulders, in the arena or not. Looking at the girl she raised an eyebrow, wondering just what spurred the sporadic awkward tones that Tia seemed to posses a repertoire of. Shrugging, she looked back to her fire, adding some more wood to the pile as Tia spoke again. This time Flora hesitated, cursing when the flames caught her hand. âNo."Â realising the vagueness of her answer she sighed shaking her hand against the stinging. âMy district can gain its own honor. I fight for..other reasons. I have no choice." As she spoke she turned away from the girl, her voice tight as she forced out the words and focused instead on the burning sensation on her hand. It helped, to have the pain, it kept her grounded. Enough to turn and face her fire, as though the question hadnât bothered her at all.
Tia awaited for Flora's answer, still watching the flames, when the flames came in contact with Flora's skin. Tia thought it was a simple mistake, but she didn't ask if she was alright because it wasn't something she usually did. Her eyes darted from the fire to Flora's face when she heard a  simple "No." The vagueness of her answer made Tia annoyed, seeing as she was actually trying to get to know her. Ava was a rocky start. Tia's conversation with Flora at first wasn't Tia's best social interaction, but it was getting better. Then she heard her full response. It didn't seem to get better from there. Just FEELSY closed off. She heard how tightened her voice was and Tia knew, she must have hit something she wasn't supposed to with her question. " If you have no choice, you should make up your own," Tia's words were strong, but it didn't look like it was doing anything for Flora. She didn't know why she felt the need to say something. Tia didn't know exactly what the problem was that bothered Flora, but she didn't intend for her to feel that way. She slowly and hesitantly laid her hand on her right shoulder, stretchering her arm. She squeezed her shoulder once, beginning to lift her hand off when she felt something.
Pate raised his eyebrows. He was clearly intrigued by her offer, and her avoiding the topic they obviously needed to talk about, but it was for the best. He raised the staff again, without a proper answer to see if she would respond in a similar way. His eyes darted from the tip of his staff to the tip of her blade. The wood on his staff was strong. There was no way Tia could slice through on one swipe, but a few hacks, and her mace would definitely break up the staff. He sighed a little bit too dramatically and smirked. âBring it on."
That's what I like to hear, she impulsively thought as she returned his smirk and raised her mace, with her hands. She let one of her hands fall from the handle, still holding the mace out in front of her, positioning herself a fair distance away from him. Tia stretched her arm out, pointing the sharp ends of the mace at Pate's face. " I'll try not to mess up that pretty face of yours," she teased, still really trying to avoid the fact that they kissed the other night. Bringing the mace back into both hands, she started running towards him. There was no need for a countdown. Tia started shouting something that was incoherent, before she swung her mace to the right to hit the lower side of his chest. Then his leg (not the prosthetic leg, cause I would feel bad).
As Flora watched, she found it hard to not be amused by the girls actions. The sheer doubtful look on her face was enough to tell her that her own belief in her ability was far lower than anticipated. If the girl was so easily disheartened then her time in the arena would most certainly be a trial.She waited patiently as the girl placed the flint near the kindling, creating sparks rather tentatively at first. But then she tried again and this time the sparks caught, the small flame dancing in the centre of the small opening. As the girl turned and thanked her she held up a hand and shook her head. The gratitude was misplaced, after all this could count as her helpful suggestion. But, hearing the rest of the girls words she would wait, not wanting to spoil their one civil moment so far. Returning the smile she laughed lightly, as she picked up a stick from her fire, a small flame dancing on its end. âWho ever said it was going to be easy was a liar. And as far as that poem goes, well, we shall see who does best once we are in the arena. Iâm glad my suggestion helped you Tia."
She rolled her eyes while growing a wider smile across her face. She hadn't forgotten about Flora helping her in some way, after she helped the girl get back on the ground. " Okay, okay Flora," she started, " I guess we're, even." she replied shaking her head, slightly annoyed with herself for walking so easily into that one. " So it's kil-" she stopped mid sentence, about to give away the own 'killer' that was trully herself, and used another word: "...tributes for themselves, in the arena. Since we're even. No more favors." Tia looked confused after she finished, as if what she said came out, awkwardly. She paused for a few minutes, unsure of what to say after that. She watched the small flame, then suddenly asked: " So, are you in the Games to just bring honor to your district or do you have something else to prove? Something else to gain?"
After their roof-top party, Pate tried his best to remain normal to Tia. What was normal, anyways? He was relieved when she had already left by the time he woke up. The awkward âhellosâ would be avoided. Still, he chose to train in the dojo. It was time to work on the skills that needed refining: reflexes, and strength. He was very close to becoming a master. Sensai said he was impressed with his drive to improve himself. Of course, his leg slightly limited him to what he could do, but that wouldnât matter in the arena. As he worked, Pate was aware of the presence of another, but it didnât register who it was. Tiaâs voice spoke in a greeting, and he placed the staff down at his side before turning to say hello. âIs that a mace?" He asked cautiously. In the dojo?
Tia smiled at his question, but it felt more like she was smirking. " Oh, this thing?" she smiled, staring down at the weapon. " Yeah, it's a mace..." her words trailed off as she started to life it, wrapping both of her hands around it to keep it steady in front of her. She shrugged, before lowering it and keeping the handle held, in one of her hands. " Not what I expected when I was thinking of a main weapon I would use, but I like it," she smiled, again. " Oh, and I snuck this in here." Her eyes fell to the bo staff in his hand. " A bo staff, huh?" Eyes glancing back to her own weapon, she could only think of one thing to do. Anything to avoid the giant elephant in the room. " How about a fight?" she asked, glancing up at him at the last minute. " I know we're allies but, I mean, why not?"
