Dear Diary,

The entire reaping situation is a mockery upon epic proportions. Never have these eyes seen such scared, whimpering babies. What pleasures it gives me to see their lives flash before their eyes is something I had almost forgotten. Maybe this is a good idea, Diary. Go into the games every once in a while. The way I see it, it’s a good way to test new teaching strategies to be implemented on my return and release some of the pent up anger that your cohorts have inflicted upon you for years. The way I see it, nothing will feel more gratifying than taking that trident of mine and chucking it at that lard basket, Will Shuester. I would give up my position as the official reaping coordinator if I could have that failure’s head mounted as the center piece to my dining room table. What a great thought to pontificate while I force my friend Blaine here to…

A whoosh of the steel door and in walked an attendant.

“The train will be arriving momentarily, Ms. Sylvester. Please be prepared to disembark and make your way to the training hou-”

“I’m gonna stop you there and ask you to turn around and vacate the car as well as never set foot in my presence again unless you do us all a favor and become an Avox. I mean that squeaky girl voice of yours makes me think you never hit puberty.”

The attendant scowled before turning around and leaving. Sue once again went back to writing in her diary as the train approached the Capitol.

Back in the last car of the train sat Kurt, Mercedes, and Effie. They were all huddled around the makeshift den with tea and biscuits.

“So how is this all going to work out, Effie? When are we going to meet our trainer?” Mercedes asked.

“Ohhh, yes! I had almost forgotten about that! Is it going to be Bruce now that Sue is in the games?!” Kurt interjected.

Bruce was the winner of the 77th Annual Hunger Games and the only other remaining victor for District Six that was alive, aside from Sue Sylvester. Bruce was a tall, beefy individual with dark, wavy brown hair and ice-cold blue eyes that could make you melt in your seat. He was a hunk. But that didn’t stop him from being a killer. In his Hunger Games, he played off being a dimwitted baboon. Most people—even Caesar—fell for his guise. Bruce acted to be nearly incapable of speech. He waved his arms around, making hand motions while simultaneously spurting out bits and pieces of speech. In short, Bruce was the male equivalent to Helen Keller.

When the games started, Bruce immediately dropped the guise and single-handedly killed fifteen people at the Cornucopia. Most of the competitors had marked him as an easy kill, but they were horribly mistaken when they saw their life flash before their eyes as Bruce’s mighty ax came swinging down on their head. Bruce also set a Games record for the shortest games in history: two hours. The landscape also played to his advantage because it was mostly a barren desert with nowhere to hide. The Capitol fans were thrilled with Bruce. All the girls had dolls of Bruce in their bedrooms by the night of his return and he had been marked as a district hero back in six. Nonetheless Bruce was busy at the moment.

“Oh no-no, darling. Little Bruce will not be spending time with us during our stay in the Capitol” Effie said, placing her tea on her saucer. “I thought you all were informed of the rule change?”

Perplexed, Mercedes and Kurt starred at one another, seeing if the other had a clue what she was talking about before they looked at her.

“Ahh, obviously not. Well, when President Figgins enforced the new rule change, it kind of did away with the need for mentors.” Effie smiled, before nonchalantly picking back up her tea and sipping it as though nothing detrimental had happened.

“OH HELL TO THE NO!” Mercedes boomed, jumping up from the coach, giving Effie enough of a fright so that she spilled a little of her drink on her shirt. “I did NOT come here for some little miss powder princess to tell me that we don’t get a coach. That is just not happening!”

“Ugh! That was brand new polyester!” Effie started, getting up and soaking the stain in cold water. She fiddled with the stain while talking, “Think about it…There is no…no..gah! stupid stain!...there is no reason for the mentors because there will never be enough for each tribute. You can’t just take 12 mentors from 12 districts. They’ll never help another district that wasn’t their own!...ugh! And, might I add, if you’re going to scare me again, could you at least WAIT until I’ve finished tea!”

Mercedes was starring at Effie like nobody wanted to be starred at. That stare that said “ Girl you just about lost your mind to tell me something like that. You best get up out of my face before something happens .”

“Well then what do you suppose we do?” Kurt begged before Mercedes could do anything.

Effie looked up and contemplated.

“Oh, well nothing else has changed dear. There are still the interviews and the scoring and the training. I suppose you should use each other. Capitol has been tired of not seeing enough team work, you know.”

God this woman is insane. She’s concerned with teamwork when not even taking into account these kids are trying to stay alive? Captiol people. Bless their hearts.

Before another word could be said a small music tune rang over the train’s loudspeakers before the same man that had informed Sue Sylvester came on the PA.

”Attention Tributes: We will be arriving in approximately two minutes. The Capitol will be on your left. That is all.”

“Oh! Oh! Let’s look! You won’t want to miss this! I think you’re in for a real treat. In my honest opinion, the Capitol always looks much more lively and dazzling at night.” Effie said, shoeing them over to the left side of the train.

Kurt looked out the window. The train whizzed through a tunnel as the concrete walls made Kurt’s image reflect of the window glass. He saw his image for a brief second before it disappeared as the train was now in sight of the Capitol.

Situated on a large lakebed with a tall fountain shooting water hundreds of feet in the middle of the lake, the Capitol, indeed, was breathtaking. The tall, Romanesque buildings illuminated the night sky. The moon added to the overall lighting that just made the Capitol look out-of-this-world. Compared to back home, the buildings were much more alive. Rather than filled with depression and sorrow, the buildings reflected the overall attitude Kurt got form the city: cheer. It took both Kurt and Mercedes’ breathe away as they stared out the window. But just as it had come, it had vanished as the train entered another long tunnel. Kurt noticed the train was also slowing down. They had arrived.

The train decelerated until it entered a brightly, lit station. Kurt looked out his window to see a massive crowd. On one side stood reporters as far as his eyes could see; the other, a crowd of citizens, cheering for an early, first-person glimpse of this year’s tributes.

“Well, better start with your impressions if you’re going to get sponsors,” Effie said, pushing them towards the window.

“What do you want us to do?” Mercedes demanded.

“Wave.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

They had fought through the crowd and managed to get to the downtown Capitol where people filled the streets and continued to cheer the tributes as their motorcades drove them to the training facility. Kurt was awestruck with more than just the buildings and atmosphere: the fashion. Guys wearing six inch heels, neon colors out the ying-yang, and small, portable dogs like it was no one’s business. It was both exciting as it was odd. Kurt, who would wear just about anything, was second guessing their fashion choices. It was obvious now that Effie wasn’t just some societal reject who dressed weird for a fashion statement: she was one of them.

“Does everyone really like this hideous all the time?” Kurt asked.

“EX-CUSE-ME!” Effie yelled. She obviously thought it wasn’t hideous. Kurt shut up, but Mercedes smirked at him. He knew he was sane.

They got to the facility and made their way up to the room.

“Now, you, being team twelve, are afforded the highest level and, in my opinion, the greatest view. Might as well look at the bright side in these times, enjoy the luxury of it all at least for a little while, right? Now I’ve gone ahead and had your schedules for the next few days printed out because you’re going to be very busy and I wouldn’t want you to miss anything, so here you go.”

She handed each of them a small, pink piece of paper.

“The bedrooms are to the left and right of the den. Now, I’m parched so I will be off but I best be seeing you bright and early for round one tomorrow at seven! If you need anything, feel free to call me at my room extension listed at the bottom. I…yes, I do believe that is all. Goodnight, loves. ”

With that, Effie made her gracious exit. Kurt looked down at his pink sheet of paper. It read:

Day One:

Arrival – 10:00pm

Day Two:

Breakfast – 7:00am
Preparation –10:00am
Introduction Ceremonies -7:00pm

Day Three:

Breakfast—7:00am
Training—10:00am

Day Four:

Breakfast—7:00am
Training—10:00am
Interviews—7:00pm

Day Five:

Breakfast—7:00am
Final Training Day—10:00am
Evaluations—5:00pm

Day Six:

Free Day

Day Seven:

May the Odds be Ever in Your Favor

Effie: 24248

Kurt was excited and scared for a few reasons. Excited because he knew how cute the outfits always were for the tributes. Last year it had been a tight blue, gray, and black suit. He wished for the same design, just for it to be in red. He always looked good in red. However, aside from his anticipation of finding out this year’s suit designs, Kurt was terrified of everything with the games. Terrified of the opening ceremonies where he would ride in on a chariot and be shown off to the world; terrified of making a complete fool of himself during the interview, being broadcasted live and across all of Panem. Worst of all, he was terrified that he wasn’t going to be thought of as a threat. He fully expected a score no higher than 6. Aside from looking cute, Kurt was terrified.

“Alright well I’m really tired, so I’m think I’m going to go to bed. Goodnight, Kurt.”

“Mercedes?”

She turned around.

“I love you. You’ve always been one of my best friends and I…I just need to make sure you know that. And never forget it.”

She smiled and walked over to Kurt.

“Yeah well I love you too. You’re one of the nicest and strongest people I know and if there is anyone I had to be partners with…I’m glad it’s you,” ending with a long hug.

“Goodnight now, for reals.” She said, and turned around and went into her room.

Kurt stood there for a moment and contemplated. He went into his bedroom and looked out to see the magnificent landscape beneath them. How could a place, so full of life and energy be so happy even at a time like this? When they outright knew that twenty or so people were going to kill each other for punishment under what their grandparents, or even older, had done. How weird it all was, Kurt thought, before drifting asleep.

“Blaine, you gotta give me something to work with here. What is it!” Kurt demanded.

Blaine now was the quiet one. He shuffled over to the window like Kurt had and looked out upon the crowds of people beneath them.

“I…I can’t, Kurt, you”

“So you just expect me to believe you that you aren’t making any of this up! Blaine, I hate to say this, but if I’m going to trust you, I need proof this time.”

“So is that what you’re saying? You don’t trust me?”

“Don’t reverse this on me—you know what I mean!” Kurt shouted. “You know if you were in my shoes that you would be doing the exact same thing. I mean can you blame me for being slightly suspicious still?”

“Well, if you say you like someone, and then don’t trust what they are trying to tell you over and over again then yes! I can blame you!”

“But that’s not fair to me! What about me, when I was the one sitting on the stage and saw you walk up there, announced as Sue’s partner. Don’t you think that that shock and moment of disbelief plays any part in this? Do you really think that I can just downright trust you because we kissed a few times? The fact of the matter is, Blaine, that no matter how dashingly handsome you may be, you still weren’t completely honest with me and you broke my trust!”

“I know, and for the millionth time, I am sorry, Kurt! It wasn’t supposed to hurt you!”

“Then what was it supposed to do, Blaine? Make me happy and jump-for-you and think ‘’YAY! I GET TO BE KILLED BY MY FRIEND WHO I WISH WAS MY BOYFRIEND!””

Blaine stopped and starred at him for a moment.

“What? Is it something I said? Did I strike your nerve, Anderson?”

“You…wanted to be…my…I your…boyfriend?” he said, mystically, almost surprised.

Kurt was kind of caught off guard from that comment. He back tracked.

“No! Well..i uh ..I thought it was understood like..I…only if you wanted to?”

“I mean, of course I did—I still do, if it weren’t for these stupid games!”

“Then what should we do about it?” Kurt asked.

“You tell me,” Blaine countered
.
Kurt thought for a moment. He reached out to touch Blaine’s soft skin. Blaine’s hazily-green eyes looked up into Kurt. They ripped into Kurt’s heart and tore it into smithereens. His hair and his scent and his facial and personalital perfection just permeated Kurt from all angles and made his heart pound against his chest.

“We could take off, you know? Live in the woods.” Kurt suggested.

Blaine chuckled, “We wouldn’t make it five miles.”

“I beg to differ. Come on,” Kurt said, grabbing Blaine and leaping up from the chair. He got to the door and opened it but a sudden blast of cold air hit him, along with an extremely bright light. That mixed with a loud beeping that sounded like the splitting of the Earth.

“Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!” Kurt started yelling.

“Kurt! Kurt!”

“Ahh…huh!?”

“Kurt? Kurt? Are you okay?” came a familiar voice.

Kurt rubbed his eyes. That blast of cold air was the facility fan he turned on before going to bed; the light was the sunbeams entering his room; the ‘splitting of the Earth’ sound was just his alarm.

“Are you okay?” came the voice again.

Kurt looked around. It was Mercedes, but of course

“I, uh, yeah—yeah I’m fine, why?”

“Oh, I don’t know, just something about me getting ready this morning when I hear you yelling “Blaine! Blaine!” over and over in your sleep. I was worried you were having some sort of nightmare.”

“Oh! I, uh, no…it wasn’t a nightmare. It was good dream—I guess. No nightmares.”

“Wanna talk about it?”

“What do you mean?”

“Don’t play dumb with me, Hummel. You know I know what you’re dream was about so spill it: find anything out?”

Kurt indeed knew what she was talking about. Why did she have to get him so well?

“Alright-alright. It was the same old dream…I’m in this weird building/room with him and all we do is go back and forth. Somehow we always get sidetracked from the real matter: why he’s in the games. Just as he’s about to open up, something happens that makes me miss my chance.”

“You sure you’re not just making this all up?” Mercedes asked.

“At this point, I really have no clue what I’m doing.” said Kurt sarcastically.

“Alright, well we should probably get ready. Breakfast is in five minutes and if we’re a second late, that geisha-bitch will be all up in our face, so hurry up boy!”

Mercedes said, walking out of the room.

Kurt laughed and hopped out of bed.

“Oh, and put this on!” she said, chucking a suit to Kurt. Kurt was so into his dream that he didn’t even notice what Mercedes had on. Same design as last year was a slim suit composed of black, gray and red. Kurt was so excited as he slipped and wiggled his way into his suit.

After nearly ripping the fabric from how round of a butt he had, he finally managed to zip it up all the way.

“Kurt Hummel—Tribute. I like the sound of that, at least wearing one of these things. Makes me feel more heroic, kind of a confidence booster,” he said to Mercedes, starring at his reflection in the mirror.

They talked on their way down to breakfast. They entered a large room where all the other teams were either in line for food or already seated and eating. They all had on their outfits and boy did everyone look fine.

Especially Blaine Anderson. The veins ran all up and down his arms as his muscular complexion became ever-so-present with the fabric he was wearing. The black matched his hair perfectly; if there was anyone that looked better than Kurt in this get-up, it was Blaine. Blaine noticed Kurt starring at him and smirked before getting up and leaving. Kurt gulped.

Mercedes and Kurt took at seat in the back and ate their meal. About halfway through breakfast, Effie and eleven other powdered-up Capitol folk, each going to a separate table to sit with their respective teams. The three of them finished their meal and shared a few laughs. Kurt and Mercedes really got to know Effie. She sounded crazy, but nonetheless, she still sounded sweet and good hearted.

“Alright, now today is where the true fun begins,” Effie said, getting up from the table and guiding them to the training center where they would practice various survival techniques.

Kurt and Mercedes walked into a gym five times the size of McKinley’s. All around the gym lay various stations for the tributes to learn from experts brought in by the Captiol. There was the Bow & Arrow station, the Knives station, the various medieval weaponry station—at which, Sue Sylvester spent most of her time. There was a ropes station, an herbs and edible plants station, a medical station, and most importantly, and a new feature of the games, a Slushy station. Kurt and Mercedes looked all around before Kurt saw Blaine walking towards him. Kurt stiffened as goosebumps ran up and down his spine.

Shit, Hummel, don’t say something stupid. Just pretend like this was when you first met him at the coffee shop. Play it cool…Play it cool.. PLAY IT..

“Hey, Hummel, could you give me a hand?” said Blaine sarcastically. In Blaine’s pulsating arm was a 100 pound weight. He turned around and chucked it where it landed about halfway across the gym floor. Kurt and Mercedes were frozen for a moment, shocked at his strength.

“HA! I’ll catch ya later, bubblebutt.” Blaine said as he walked off.

Well there were three things apparent from all of this: one, Blaine was fucking strong. Two, he was already set out to humiliate and break Kurt down even more. And three, he was horrible at comebacks.

Hallelujah, I was beginning to think he was perfect Kurt thought, as he made his way over to the editable plants station, by-passing the Slushy station. Kurt didn’t need to waste any time there—he was all too familiar with the damage Slushies could do.