They dressed her in red and she knows why. Every time they introduce her to a new district, they flash a picture of her as the Games ended, drenched in the blood of the District 2 tribute that lay almost in pieces at her feet, ax hanging limply in her hand. Her hair is tied back in a slick ponytail that is so tight it makes her head pound. At least they didn't make her wear the stupid Victor's crown.
Since Saw has fled and Jyn no longer has a mentor, she's being chaperoned by the mother of a former tribute. Akshaya's husband had "killed himself" (been murdered by the Peacekeepers) when their daughter died in the Games and now they've sent her away from her remaining child to look after Jyn since she is old enough to fight to the death but not to look after herself. Such is Panem. Akshaya keeps reminding Jyn to smile but she either won't or can't. The small and innocent persona they had labeled her with before the Games has vanished and in place is a girl who still feels the blood pooling in her shoes, dripping from her hair, drying under her nails.
She doesn't want to smile. She doesn't want to walk on to the stage and smile at the family of a child she had watched be murdered.
The escort -- a bouncy woman all in gold and a smile that makes Jyn want to scream -- bounces over and pries Akshaya's hand from Jyn's arm, bodily forcing herself between them so she can personally lead the newest Victor to meet District Eleven's most handsome Victor.
"Cassian! This is Seven's pride and joy, Miss Jyn! You to chat while we finish setting up the stage! Do you need a fan? Let's get them some fans! It's so hot here, I don't know how you people can stand it!" Her voice is shrill, like the foxes in heat in the forest and Jyn visibly flinches from the noise, relieved when the woman abruptly abandons them together.
She looks at the boy in front of her. Man? He isn't that much older than her. Saw had made her and Codo watch his Games as part of her training, in case they found themselves in a snow globe, and it couldn't have been more than five years prior and he was young. Jyn is 16, Codo was 18. Cassian is probably closer to Codo's age.
She looks at him, green eyes calculative, but she doesn't say anything.
no subject
Since Saw has fled and Jyn no longer has a mentor, she's being chaperoned by the mother of a former tribute. Akshaya's husband had "killed himself" (been murdered by the Peacekeepers) when their daughter died in the Games and now they've sent her away from her remaining child to look after Jyn since she is old enough to fight to the death but not to look after herself. Such is Panem. Akshaya keeps reminding Jyn to smile but she either won't or can't. The small and innocent persona they had labeled her with before the Games has vanished and in place is a girl who still feels the blood pooling in her shoes, dripping from her hair, drying under her nails.
She doesn't want to smile. She doesn't want to walk on to the stage and smile at the family of a child she had watched be murdered.
The escort -- a bouncy woman all in gold and a smile that makes Jyn want to scream -- bounces over and pries Akshaya's hand from Jyn's arm, bodily forcing herself between them so she can personally lead the newest Victor to meet District Eleven's most handsome Victor.
"Cassian! This is Seven's pride and joy, Miss Jyn! You to chat while we finish setting up the stage! Do you need a fan? Let's get them some fans! It's so hot here, I don't know how you people can stand it!" Her voice is shrill, like the foxes in heat in the forest and Jyn visibly flinches from the noise, relieved when the woman abruptly abandons them together.
She looks at the boy in front of her. Man? He isn't that much older than her. Saw had made her and Codo watch his Games as part of her training, in case they found themselves in a snow globe, and it couldn't have been more than five years prior and he was young. Jyn is 16, Codo was 18. Cassian is probably closer to Codo's age.
She looks at him, green eyes calculative, but she doesn't say anything.