84 Afterlife!AU, Part 3

Amari Cooper of District 6 was still stunned. As soon as he woke up and the soft light illuminated the room with a warm glow, however, he knew he was dead. He wasn't sure how he was conscious, but he was dead. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath to keep away tears. He felt absolutely horrible. How could he have done this to his friends and family back home? He was going to win for Karima, and for Billie, and... There was so much riding on this. 
When he managed to get to his feet, he realized he had wings. They weren't like the fake pieces of PVC pipe he and Kyle used to try and attach to their backs. No, these were real, honest-to-god, warm, soft, feathery wings.
Amari's first thought was, quite simply, I don't deserve to be here. That was the most confusing part of it all. He wasn't sure what he might have done to deserve this... This peace. This calm feeling. This warmth. He didn't know, but he was glad he did it.
Amari walked slowly out of the room. He really wanted to try out the wings, but figured that he would save that until a better day when he wasn't feeling so down. He missed Kyle and Lydia already, even his parents. They were all thinking about him, too, which made the moment even more bittersweet. He saw Billie first, but looked away from her. After everything she had been screaming at him in the Arena, he couldn't face her. Maybe she didn't really think those things. But maybe she did. After all, Amari and Lydia had made fun of her even before the reaping began and they were both shipped off to that mess. 
Amari moved his thoughts away from that and to the present. The ground under his feet was soft and he felt no discomfort or pain. He felt light as a feather, like nothing would ever weigh him down again. He wasn't hungry or thirsty, and he wasn't anxious or afraid. Not anymore. 
He was startled when he saw a figure dashing towards him, as quick and agile as a bunny. He was surprised when Karima fluttered towards him, practically gliding with her wings, and spun him around in a tight, off-the-ground hug. 
"Woah! Hey Karima!" he tried not to sound surprised. After all, they had been allies. He just felt bad for how he treated her through everything, really. He hadn't kept a good enough eye on her and she ended up dying because he wasn't awake when she left. He didn't really want to think about the black and white and moral gray area, so he focused on reuniting with his friend instead. 
"Amari," she said quietly, her voice quivering slightly. 
"Don't cry," he said quietly. If she was going to he might just cry in sympathy, and he wouldn't want that. 
"Sorry," she squeaked quietly, burying her face in his neck. 
"I'm sorry. I really wanted to win for you. For everyone." 
"I know," she said, trying to keep her voice steady and not succeeding very well. "It's okay. We're here now." 
Amari blinked away some tears, but when he heard Karima sobbing into his neck he broke and they started to drip out of his eyes and down his cheeks. The allies, friends, and youngest tributes of the Games stayed there like that for a good while. 
Somewhere, deep down, they knew that they had to let out the sorrow and misery before the process of healing could truly begin.  
~.~.
District 11's Edgard Lowell kept his eyes closed. 
So it really was true. He was the first of his allies to die. 
It didn't matter. Well, of course it mattered, but Edgard was used to downplaying what he was feeling. Somehow, he knew that he wouldn't be able to do that any longer. 
He didn't want Kendal to think it was his fault. Raoul was more rational and more Games-minded, he would eventually get over it. Well, as much as you could get over it in an Arena like the hell they had lived through, that is. 
Kendal, though, would feel sorry. Edgard was sure of it. He didn't want him to be sorry, though. All this time Edgard had been so confused, searching for his purpose in life, trying to find where he fit, and he had found it. Somewhere within the chaos of confronting the Careers, Edgard had decided that maybe his purpose wasn't something he would figure out in a couple years. Maybe his purpose had been laid out before him his entire life, and now was the critical moment. His purpose was to give his allies another chance. And he'd served that purpose in full. 
He felt peace more than anything. Sure, Kayla and Mich were missing him, but they had each other. His parents missed him, but they had each other. Kendal and Raoul were one step closer to making it home, and Edgard was rooting for them the entire way. 
So, why be sad? Edgard felt free from the chains of his worry about who he was. He had a better idea now, now that he'd sacrificed himself for his friends. He stood up and was about to step into a new world when he heard the whimpering of a boy who had just lost everything he had ever wanted.
~.~.
District 1's Callum Ainsworth hated himself. 
Even the anger he felt was subdued. He couldn't be mad. He felt so fragile, like he would break if he was nudged the wrong way, that he would crash into a million pieces. 
How could he have been so stupid?
It was the rashest decision he'd ever made. How was he supposed to be peaceful about it? He never should have gone into the Games, and he'd realized it too late. He still wasn't exactly sure who killed him, it was kind of a blur, but he didn't care. He was the first of the Careers pack to die. At least it wasn't in the bloodbath, he tried to convince himself. He would have absolutely been the laughing stock of the District if he'd died in the bloodbath. What a legacy that would have been. 
Maybe he should've just let Gravity go into the Games like he was supposed to. Maybe he should have stayed with his friends and grandparents. Even if that's what he should have done, he couldn't change it now. He couldn't change te fact that Amory and Niss were probably mad as hell at him and he couldn't do anything about it. Who would take care of his grandparents? He didn't want them to join him too soon. 
They were thinking about him. All of them. It was a bittersweet sensation that was both warming and painful at the same time. He let them down. He let them all down. He would fade away into nothing just like the rest of the mediocre District 1 boys that went into the Games. Gravity was amazing, he would have taken the win for sure. Callum had failed. He wasn't anything great, he wasn't strong like the rest of them, he wasn't like them. He wasn't better than them. He was just so average. 
And that stung. It stung a lot. The realization that everything he'd wanted was for absolutely nothing. He couldn't change anything now. He was stuck here, away from them. He was useless. 
"Are you okay?" 
Callum jumped, shattering as he looked up at the boy from 11, the boy that was killed by Callum's alliance. He stared at him, so Edgard repeated the question. 
"We're dead!" Callum said. Tears traced their way down his cheeks. "Can't you see that?" 
"Of course I can. But I can't change that now. Why worry about it?" 
"Because, we left them!! We left them all!" 
"I know. It's hard. But that's the purpose we were meant to serve." 
"Purpose?" 
"I died to give my allies a second chance." 
"I didn't. I was..." Callum thought back. He was in so much pain, fighting to hang onto life when it happened. "I was killed in cold blood." 
Edgard sat down next to the 1 boy and wrapped him up in his warm, feathery wings. "But you volunteered for that guy." 
"He would have won," Callum said miserably. "He was the selected volunteer."
"Well, now he has a chance to do something else. A second chance. Because of you." 
Callum felt much calmer, but still just as upset. He cried quietly into his knees, enjoying the comfort of Edgard, wrapped around him like a blanket. 
"He won't take it," Callum sniffled. "I dishonored him." 
"Maybe he will. He has to get back up on his feet someday." 
Callum didn't know what to say to that and was too tired to retort, so he stayed there, curled up, crying quietly. He expected Edgard to decide it was pointless and leave, but the 11 boy stayed with him patiently. 
Callum was quiet for a while before Edgard stood up and brought him slowly to his feet. 
"There's a new world out there just waiting for us," Edgard said gentle. "Let's see what it has in store." 
Callum swallowed hard and nodded. "Yeah. Let's go." 
Together, they stepped outside into the great behind, leaving their past sorrows, pain, and confusion behind. 

District 6 Chibis!

Female Tribute: Billie West- Seahorse8

Male Tribute: Amari Cooper- Jalen Kun

Escort: Demetria Dawn- Apollo's Slytherpuff Daughter

Female Mentor: Clara Revery- LokiThisIsMadness

Male Mentor: Allocen Barque- Emrys Holmes

 And all together! Woo hoo!

~Question Time!! Part 6~

From impossiblepostrunaway via Tumblr: Hi! I have a question for the tributes from D1, D6, D6, D7, D8, D12. What is your favorite color and why? :D
~.~. 
Iridesce: Hm... I like all the colors. I can't say I mind the color of my hair, but I also like royal purple, just because it's bright and, well, royal. 
Callum: Mine is orange. I dunno why, it just is. I'm glad I didn't tell my prep team that, though, or else I would've ended up looking like a pumpkin!
Amari: I'm a navy blue kind of guy. It's just very mellow and definitely a cool color. 
Billie: I haven't really given it much thought. Probably just black, because it's the color of darkness. 
Riella: The color of Andy's eyes. Oh God I sound disgusting right now. But it's just... A fact. That's how you know you're kinda in really deep.
Kendal: I dunno if I could decide on just one. I love pink, though, but a soft pink, that reminds me of the sunset. I like all the colors, though, especially if they're described well in literature.
Felicity: Just choose one color? I enjoy them all. No matter what, my baby will be the best-dressed little rascal out there once I'm a Victor.
Nautica: The crimson red of blood on the wall. It's a relief because not only have we accomplished our goal, but we also get to live another day.
Leo: Probably charcoal, the color that's all over District 12's dim palette. Just because it's so familiar, it makes me think of my family and Zack.
Wren: Anything but charcoal. I love vibrant colors, especially yellow! District 12 is so incredibly pale and washed-out in terms of colors. 

~Question Time!! Part 4~

From Sophie via Tumblr: Here are some questions:

Callum: Do you wish your relationship with your parents was different?

Vidarr: If you had to pick your favorite thing about living in District Two, what would it be?

Maggie: If you had stayed in D2, do you think you would have married your girlfriend? Also, who do you think would have proposed to the other? You or her?

Collin: What is your favorite memory about your father?

Amari: You had friends, a good life and you were popular. But besides that, is there anything you wish you had done while you were still in District Six? Like, something you regret not doing?

Riella: What is your favorite thing about your girlfriend? Also, how did you know you loved her in the first place?

Kendal: If you hadn’t been reaped, what do you imagine your life in District Seven would be like after you turned eighteen?

Felicity: Have you picked a name for your baby? If so, what made you pick it?

Kade: If you could say anything to your sister, what would it be?

Leo: Weird question, but would you change your name if you could?

~.~. 

Callum: Of course I do.  I wish my mother hadn't been stupid and gotten pregnant with me when she was so young.  I wish I had parents. I mean, of course my grandparents mean the world to me, and they've done everything they can for me, but... I wish I was like the other kids at Academy who had time to focus on training instead of having to juggle a job and caring for them and all... So yeah, I wish it was different. 

Vi: Well, besides my Ashe, probably just how well-off we are. If we lived anywhere else, Ashe and I probably wouldn't have been able to run away together without permission and get an apartment.  I mean, it's by no means a great place, but it's a place.  And we can feed ourselves. And that's really all that matters. 

Maggie: Well... I mean, it's hard to say because we're still both 16, and I don't think either of us intends on getting married so young.  But, of course I've thought about the possibility. It's a little crazy to think about, with both of us so young.  If someone were to propose... I dunno.  I mean, it could be either of us.  Neither of us would propose without being totally sure that we wanted to do it.  Hannah is so much more creative than me, though, it'd probably be more romantic if she did it. But you never know. 

Collin: My father was always my best friend. I have plenty of happy memories of sitting at the table with him and eating fruit and giggling in our small dusty kitchen.  The first time he took me out on the open sea, and I remember how incredibly amazing it was, to be out sailing on the ocean.  He said, "Smell the air, Collin.  This will be your home."  *sighs* Yeah. 

Amari: Well, I'm only 15.  There's a lot of stuff I wish I could've done, but like, when I'm ready.  I mean, I haven't gone all the way with anyone, but I wouldn't do that if I could change things.  I wouldn't until I was older.  Other than that, I can't say there's anything I regret.  Maybe I'd be more respectful of my mother, but she's such a killjoy I just can't help it. 

Riella: My favorite thing about Andy?  Oh, everything.  So sappy, I know.  But I can't pick just one thing, that's why I love her so much.  That's why I picked her over my parents.  I knew I loved her one time when we were talking together and I realized there was nobody I'd rather be talking to, nobody I'd rather spend my time with, nobody I'd rather be with more than her. 

Kendal: Well... Trying to figure out where I belong, I guess.  I suppose I would spend some time travelling with my Dad before learning to teach on my own and being a teacher to camp kids.  Maybe find someone to get married to, if that happens I won't fight it.  I'd just be nothing special, as is usual for District 7 people. 

Felicity: I haven't considered it too much. Jonathan and I were gonna talk about it after the reaping but obviously that didn't work out, now did it? 

Kade: I would say... I'm sorry.  For everything.  I blame myself for her death, of course, I should've done something... But it's definitely not her fault.  I would say how much I love her and wish she was here.  *sad sigh* 

Leo: Yeah, I think I would.  I mean, it's so plain and simple and sometimes I'm not sure it suits me. 

~QUESTION TIME!! Part 3~

From yourtheamericanpsycho via Tumblr: Here’s a question for: Callum, Iridesce, Maggie, Collin. Amari, Briella and Wren. If you had to pick your favorite memory from home, what would it be? Who would be in it?
~.~.
Callum: I have plenty of fond memories. But one of my favorites would probably be my grandmother's birthday last year. We had some cake, we spent the day together, and Armory and Niss even came over for some of it. It was just a fun day of bonding for all of us. 
Iridesce: Hm... Well, it would probably be that day when I came out as genderfluid to my family, and asked them to refer to me as they/them. Those days don't come too incredibly often, but that first time that I knew what I wanted and my family and friends accepted and respected that... Made me extremely happy. 
Maggie: It would probably be back when my father was still alive.  Hannah and I had a sleepover, and my family insisted we stay in the living room and have a family game night. My mother brought out a deck of cards and we all played together. Then Hannah and I went to my room together and snuggled and kissed when we were sure my parents and Sammie were asleep.  That happened before I was out.  But I still remember it fondly. 
Collin: Back when I was younger, when I was 12 and Tel was born and joined our family, he was just a baby. Running on the beach, feeling the ocean wash across my bare feet as I was so carefree, my father was there holding Tel and watching, we were a happy family and the beach was so warm and welcoming. Of course, that memory's ruined because of the fact that the sea turned against me and took my father, though. 
Amari: Anything before the Games, really. I had it perfect. I'm well-liked, surrounded by pretty people that are interested in me, and of course, I have my best friends Kyle and Lydia by my side. People respect me and think I'm funny. I lived the good life every day, before I was reaped. I mean, I suppose there was that one day I spent with that guy that was really good if you know what I mean, but really I can't pinpoint a specific moment.
Riella: Mine would have to be that first morning that I woke up next to Andy. Yeah, leading up to that I knew I was moving in with her: the preparations, the day spent unloading my things and getting me settled, but I guess the full meaning of the moment didn't hit me until I opened my eyes and saw her face there and knew that I was home. I knew that I would never deal with another hateful word from my parents, another argument with them. I was really, truly home, for the first time, I was content, I knew that it all paid off and worked out. 
Wren: I don't know if I can pinpoint a specific moment, but it would definitely include my family and friends. My parents, my siblings Robyn and Jay, my friends Tansy and Emberly... We've all had so many smiles and laughs together it'd be hard to pick just one moment or memory as a favorite. I remember fond things about each one of them, really.