thgrp | reaping✧

Instructions

caspian wasn't one to keep his promises. he was the type to forget about such pointless things, his apathy a persisting curse that ate away at his capability to care, and tragically it had no cure. but today was somewhat of a special case. caspian needed to uphold the vow he had made to his triplet brothers, because /they/ were different. perhaps they were the only people who had ever earned a permanent place in caspian's heart. the mundane smell of salty ocean air washed over him once again as his eyes peeked open a bit more. trenton must've opened the front door to the outside, which always held such a scent. it was the routinely signal that he had to wake up and get out of bed. the annoying sign that it was new day, a fresh beginning. had he ever been given a fresh beginning? ever been looked down upon by whatever gods that ruled this world with favor? he didn't think so. his limbs ached with the exertion of yesterday's training regime, despite avisa's incessant chatter saying that his training was barely exhausting. avisa had once told him that she could push him much harder, to his breaking point, if she so desired. and caspian didn't think for one second that she was bluffing. avisa never said anything just for theatrics. no. she got down to the meat of any conversation as quickly as possible. and caspian hated her. his thoughts were a maelstrom of emotions as he got ready for the day. the simultaneous excitement and fear that bred inside of him as he mulled over the idea of meeting his brothers again was the only motivation that kept him going. kept him on his paws. kept him willing to volunteer for the games. no matter that it was a death sentence. staying with the remnants of his ruined family would be a worse place to be. clothed in what would be deemed suitable and proper for the formal occasion that was the reaping, caspian made his way out of his minimalistic bedroom. his family must have already left to be early for the reaping. it saved him from having to walk with them. he set one paw down after the other, finally making it out the front door. the next minutes that passed by were of little consequence. caspian kept to himself, occasionally mustering the energy to wave at the rare schoolmate he saw. his promenade to the center of d4 was a yearly habit, meant to be enjoyable, because what was the reaping other than the selection of real players in an entertaining survival tv show for the capitols entertainment? nearing the square, his neves jittery, he felt the press of a peacekeeper urging him into the familiar roped-in sections. he spotted guinevere in the section for 12 year olds, and a fantasy of her name being called out unintentionally conjured in his mind. avisa would never recover from her hard work being thrown away like that. the district's escort, some tom cat that caspian had never made eye contact with in all his years of attending the reapings, was already prepped and prepared. the reaping commenced with its usual schedule. after reluctantly turning his eyes up to watch the propaganda video briefly explaining the games, he made himself focus for the next part. the part that was actually impactful. the escort hooked a slip of crisp white paper in his gaudily painted nail. this one was for the males. he was about to call out who would be reaped. caspian knew what he had to do. a flashback of the last time he had glimpsed his brothers floated in his subconscious. how he missed galleon and saylor. "on the reaping day. we have to see each other again. not in death, in life." "...avisa will never give us up. its either we die together or we die separated from each other." "if everyone agrees to it. we can make it work." it was a bad, stupid idea. but caspian wouldn't be the one to suddenly drop out of the agreement they had. the plan they had drawn out hastily, confirmed over a multitude of secret letters penned only by the faint moonlight. 2 seconds ticked by. the name was called. someone from caspian's school. 20 seconds ticked by. his name was ketch. a minute now. the escort had cleared his throat, was opening his mouth to ask for volunteers. anyone who was willing to replace ketch. and caspian was ready. ready to throw himself into a bloody, brutal game where he would die. ready to never see avisa again. ready to escape being a pawn on avisa's chessboard, only to throw himself into the hands of another monster. ready to leave the whale in favor of taking his chances with the leviathan. ready to see his brothers again. "i volunteer." the words came out smoothly, no hint of hesitation in his voice. practically running up to the stage, he found himself standing beside the escort, with ketch retreating back into the crowd, a look of utmost gratitude for caspian. eyes narrowing against the sunlight that now attacked him, he felt avisa's wrath. it was a palpable thing, and although he hadn't once glanced over to see her reaction, he knew.