Victory Tour!

[etcircenses]

Most of you weren't around the last time District tours were allowed. The opulence of the train is just as great however. It is plush, full of the same comforts and pleasures as the Capitol. Dining, entertainment centers, and shared rooms for the Tributes, the bunk beds featuring the finest of fabrics. The wide windows all around the train give way to the stunning views of the District countrysides.

Before the quell, it used to be that only the Victors of the arena would behold such sights, but you Tributes, the survivors of the fifteenth arena of the seventy fifth quarter quell are very lucky indeed. It will be a greater pageant than ever before, with so many Tributes getting the chance to speak to the Districts their children were reaped from, where you stand and the children stand no longer. The honor, duty, and sacrifice a Tribute's life involves cannot be understated.

Staff and Mentors are, of course, brought along for the ride. You'll need them for when you are to give your speech to the Districts! There will be a lot of preparation work involved, but maybe, should you do well, you will be afforded some time to travel between the cars and visit those of other Districts.

As always, the tour will be starting in District twelve, which will take just over forty eight hours to reach. There's no need to feel unsafe. There's an overwhelming number of Peacekeepers on board, here to keep you all safe, as will there be in each of the Districts you visit.

Sleep tight.

Comments

For Vivi and Rick

[weaintashes]

The length of Daryl's body was pressed into Rick's beneath the sheets, their limbs still tangled from their earlier activities, his head tucked between Rick's neck and shoulder, where his breath was warm and steady against his lover's skin. It felt as though he'd barely drifted off when the sudden shuddery jolt of the train and shrieking brakes startled him into immediate alertness; he'd been thrown backwards, nearly right off the bed.

"Rick," came his urgent and unnecessary whisper to his bedmate, whom he could tell was already waking. Quickly freeing himself from the sheets, he stood and started pulling on his clothes with practised haste, and separated Rick's out for him at the same time. Everything had been left strewn across the floor of their private compartment, and a couple items of clothing were probably confused in the low light and wound up on the wrong body, but that hardly mattered. Their priority went without saying: they had to get to Vivi and make sure he was safe.

Charlie was likewise already up and grumbling his annoyance at being woken so roughly, which soon became low growling in warning as he stood at the door listening to the chaos erupting beyond it. His attention remained there even as Daryl urged him this way and that, leashing and preparing him to take with them. There was no way in hell he'd ever leave their dog behind, especially if danger was near at hand. Better to stick together.

[rictator]

The end of the world had a way of altering one's sleeping habits, not that Rick had ever been a particularly deep sleeper. Fatherhood had put an early end to that, his ears trained for even the quietest of noises; every muted footstep, every slight cough was enough to shake him from the heaviest of slumber. The lurch of the train hadn't been nearly so subtle.

Even after nearly a year in the Capitol, Rick's hand moved immediately for a gun that wasn't there, his heart stopping for a brief moment as his mind scrambled to fill in the blanks. He'd noticed the absence of Daryl's heat even before he'd opened his eyes, his fingers groping blindly as he hurriedly followed suit, disentangling himself from the blankets.

And then he was on his feet, yanking his jeans up over his thighs and glancing around for his other boot. Words weren't needed - He already knew that they were on the same wavelength, his eyes traveling the distance between Daryl and the door, then back again. They were separated, scattered, and whatever caused this... Accident, attack, or otherwise, they were at a disadvantage. They were all unarmed, and Vivi was easily the most vulnerable of their ragtag little family, his magic still bound by the Capitol's influence.

Rick could only hope that the cacophony from the hallway beyond might mask the resounding crack as the chair hit the wall. It may have given away their position, but it was a necessary risk; the Capitol had been thorough in their sweep for potential weapons. That didn't make it any easier on his nerves, every loud noise making his heart skip, setting his teeth on edge... It wasn't until the third strike that the wood finally splintered, and Rick managed to break away one of the legs; it wouldn't even the odds, but the jagged end was sure to ruin someone's day.

There was no question as he pushed the makeshift stake in Daryl's direction, needing to know that he was taken care of first; they were running out of time, and he had no intention of arguing the point.

[weaintashes]

It took a couple minutes to attach the small packs to Charlie's harness, something Daryl had been training him to carry for exactly this purpose. Knowing what he did of the Rebellion, it was only a matter of time until shit hit the fan in Panem and he'd wanted whatever small advantages they could get, limited as they were in their roles as glorified prisoners. Charlie was a family pet first and foremost, but he was also a stocky working dog whose training could surely prove beneficial. By the time Daryl finished, Rick was passing him the splintered chair leg, which was accepted without comment. The expectant look he threw Rick said enough; they weren't leaving until he was similarly armed.

Once he was, Daryl directed Charlie out of the way with a gesture and readied himself as he slid open the door. Peacekeepers were swarming the hallway, but for once they didn't appear to be concerned with the Tributes. The train was obviously under attack and they'd mobilised to subdue the threat, whatever it was. Opting to take point, Daryl kept Rick and Charlie both behind him as he began roughly shouldering his way through the mob and clearing a path for his companions, with characteristic single-minded determination that kept him focused and held his panic at bay. With scarcely enough room to breathe amid the mass of shifting bodies, they were forced to remain all but pressed together in order to ensure they wouldn't be separated, something Daryl took further precaution against by keeping a firm hold of Rick's arm and Charlie's harness.

A few Peacekeepers did take notice of them, angrily shouting for them to return to their quarters and remain there for their own safety, but the orders were ignored and Daryl continued bodily forcing his way through. Better him than Rick for this kind of grunt work, he figured; Rick was certainly no pushover, but Daryl had the weight advantage and understood how to shift his center of gravity and brace himself so he couldn't easily be knocked off his feet.

The going became marginally easier when the crowd thinned in the next few cars, but it was frustratingly impossible to move at a faster pace than walking. At least they were making steady progress, slow as it was. They were finally nearing District 7's compartments and, worryingly, there were all out brawls occurring within the train now, punctuated by the thunder of gunfire very close by. Pained screaming followed the sound of shattering glass somewhere directly behind them. Ears ringing, he cast an anxious look over his shoulder at Rick.

"After we get him, where're we goin'?" he shouted over the noise and his own temporary deafness, but didn't wait for an answer before moving forward into the car which housed Vivi's assigned quarters, hoping to god the kid had stayed put.