REAPING DAY! ((Open to all in District Seven!))

((Sorry this will be so short and late guys, this was supposed to go up days ago and there was confusion about who was doing it and I have almost no time today, but it needs to get done! I hope the Reaping experience is still the same though, guys! <3))


The sun welcomed Xander as he stepped off the train. Oh, he just knew that today was going to be a good day! He thought about the previous Reaping. Each had gone well in his opinion! This year was going to be so a tough competition! He along with all of his colleges and friends back into the Capitols would be biting their nails this year, that was for sure! He hadn't picked a favorite yet, but that was all in due time. Xander was rather a fan of the underdogs. He LOVED watching the Games and the less experienced get changed in the games. They would turn, get strong and would be the most entrapping to watch. Then again, seeing a Career completely dominate was also something that he found joy in watching. Oh - any win was well anticipated and wonderful to watch! He was just super excited this year. Oh, bless his heart, he was this excited every year! But the Games were so close!

Xander looked around at his crew. He was kind of chipper that Snow wasn't here today. The publicity was great, but that fellow could be a downer at times. Never saying much. The poor chap. But no matter! Today was the day! And it was the day for another 5 days! Wasn't it great! Though tiredness weighed on Xander's eyelids, he barely needed a cup of coffee to be ust as excited and awake as before. He waved at passersby on the street. Though, there weren't many. Most were still in their houses fixing up their young ones, relatives, or just sleeping in, taking the day off as an advantage. Few smiled at Xander, but he didn't care. There was always a bit of animosity in these later Districts, they hadn't yet realized how wonderful the Games were for them, poor souls!

As the members of the District started filing in, camera men came up to Xander interviewing him. He was used to this routine, it was getting difficult after a while to say different things. He saw someone commenting on the weather. Great weather for a Reaping, that was sure!

And finally, it was time to begin! Xander took in a deep breath, smelling the fresh, clear air. This District was really pretty. Quite... forest-y. "Gooood morning, District Seven! And welcome, your 16th annual Hunger Games is beginning! You are getting your chance to have a talented young girl and boy to come along with us and participate in the Hunger Games! It's quite an honor! So, good luck and may the odds be ever in your favor!"

"Girl's first, then!" He practically jumped and plucked a slip of paper out of the edge of the bowl.

It was normal to be scared. Roman bit his lip and glanced as his mother frantically got Shard up from bed. Every year Roman had been to the reaping he had hated it. Every year the ghastly smile that was flung upon the Capitol members faces made Roman’s stomach churn. The reaping had a big effect on the family’s opinion of each other. It was the only time of the year when Roman’s mother actually cared for Roman, purely because she knew she was close to losing him, of course once it was over with she would go back to her normal ways. Roman’s father was much more supportive. The two of them had been through the process. If Roman was picked he would not cry, he didn’t want to give the Capitol that satisfaction. He would have a tear form yes, but he would not cry. The boy had told himself that several times. Each time the hand went into the boys bowl. Roman felt his heart race.

Samantha, Roman’s mother, forced Shard to get changed and she practically dragged him out the house. Roman walked out into District 7 and his eyes immediately found his father. The man was stood leaning against the side of the house. Hesitantly Roman approached him. A flicker of a small overcame Roger’s (Roman’s father) face. It was a weak smile that certainly didn’t imply that the man was happy. It was more of a reassurance. The man placed his hand on Roman’s shoulder and squeezed it gently. “Whatever happens, remember that we love you.” Roman glanced behind him to see his mother frolicking around with Shard shouting at him for not getting ready quick enough. He then turned back to his father and raised his eyebrows.

“I know.” He lied through a fake smile. He knew that when Roger said ‘we’ he practically meant ‘I’. Roman knew his father loved him; he did not have the same opinion on his mother. Roman was scared. He glanced over to the rest of the District the huge amount of people, and the Capitol would choose just two. Samantha led the way, she held Shard’s arm tightly and half dragged him on his way. Roger and Roman took it slower. Roman licked his dry lips in an attempt to take his mind off the possible doom that could come from today.

Roman was definitely nervous, he always was. The boy had however become increasingly good at hiding those nerves. From a glance Roman looked somewhat casual, hands fiddling around in his trouser pockets and a somewhat curious look across his face. He lazily walked forwards heading for the main square of District 7. There were so many people. He wasn’t going to be chosen out of all these people. No way...Of course there was always the doubt, the mental conflict that the brain had with itself. The balancing of yes or no. Roman tried his best to dispose of that war, often unsuccessfully. He could remember his first time attending the reaping. He had cried several days before it. Watching other Districts get picked out. The crying was a thing he could no longer afford to do. He had to save his tears for another day.

As the boy entered the Square he eyed the stage intently. Hatred spread through his veins. After the District was all in the Square the man appeared. Disgust overcame Roman’s face. As the man over exaggerated and generally emphasised everything to the point of disgust, Roman glanced at the floor for a second to get relief of the man’s putrid face. Roman knew better than to stay like this, so he formed up some energy and managed to look back at the man, Xander. Xander got on with it, and as he thrust his hand into the Girls bowl. Roman’s heart beat against his chest his head moved to face his fathers, the two had managed to stand next to each other. Roman said nothing though, simply glanced down at the ground again. He waited.

Rain had fallen the previous night.The air was warm, spring was somewhat in full bloom. It was ironic that such a horrible day could be taken place in the best type of weather, at least in Thalia's opinion.
It was the third year that Thalia's name was in the reaping. Each year her name was put in more and more. Each year her chances of getting slaughtered got much more possible. Was it right to be scared? Thalia knew she should, but surprisingly she wasn't. Sure, she had a few butterflies here and there in her stomach, and the feeling that she might not be able to hold down her couple bites of breakfast, but these small feelings were nowhere close to true terror.

Reapings had to be formal. Thalia had to wear her nicest clothes. God, everytime. Every single person living in all the Districts had to gather in the square, wearing the nicest things they owned, for annoying Capitol members to read out the names of twenty-four of those people, ending the life of twenty-three of them. It almost seemed ... nevermind. Thalia couldn't even think of a word to describe how completely and utterly wrong the Capitol was.

After Thalia, her two older brothers, her three younger siblings, and her parents were ready, they walked together to the square. Thalia's mother had saved up enough spare change to buy some makeup for the reaping. She'd offered some to Thalia, but she refused, in case there was the slight chance that she was picked out of the ball. She'd just look like a pathetic piece of bait up there with make up running, knowing she'd probably cry.

Chris, Keaton, and Thalia signed themselves in, and then went to the different age groups. All the possible tributes sat in chairs while everyone else had to stand.
Thalia couldn't help but look around. Behind her were the twelve and eleven sections. Most of them were crying silently, with tears streaming down their faces. Up on the raised platform were the capitol members, peacekeepers and mayor. The mayor had the most dismal expression on his face, while all the Capitol members had the biggest, brightest smiles on their faces. Thalia felt so sick looking at them.

Thalia took a break from looking around, and stared at her knees. She sat like that waiting for the reaping to start, waiting for the possibility of being slaughtered on screen in front of all of panem.

It was the day of the reaping. Her friends were all so nervous, but Lauren was excited. She wanted to be picked. Since her father believed that she was too stupid to win, she was desperate to go. To prove herself. She was being pushed by others, desperate to see, but she shoved them all down to the ground.
She saw Xander's hand plunge in to the bowl, she knew this year was the year for her.