Chapter 25
1105 Words
I mixed an appletini with the greatest care, dragging each step out as long as I could. Then I had to go down to the pet shop and pet the kittens, since it was two in the morning and they were lonely. I tried to get started but I was just too antsy.
You know what I need? I need to invent a cocktail. Isn't that what that one guy said? No procrastinating, either. Right now.
My glorious invention consisted of half a can of cream soda, a spritz of grenadine, half a glass of champagne, two shots of ice wine, and plum sugar on the rim. I cut out the middleman and poured two.
What should I call it? "Two in the morning bum". "Lazygirl". Got it! "Favorable Odds." After that I had absolutely no more excuses. I sat in the dreaded chair and began to work.
NAME: JEAN ROBERTS
DISTRICT TEN MALE
SKILLS DEMONSTRATED: HAND TO HAND COMBAT, STRENGTH
SKILLS ASSESSED: Jean was an unexpected force in his last appearance. If not for his unfortunate case of tetanus, he may have won. This year was an improvement. His former cocky attitude was replaced by quiet resignation, and his demonstrations were matter-of-fact.
STRENGTHS: Jean has changed drastically. He has matured greatly and seems to have come to terms with his mortality. His quiet strength will take him far.
WEAKNESSES: Jean is moody and may sink into a depression.
ODDS: 35:1
NOTES: Aren't you with Cornflower? How are you one of the sanest of them?
NAME: FELIX VEAUX
DISTRICT TEN MALE
SKILLS DEMONSTRATED: HAND TO HAND COMBAT, KNIVES
SKILLS ASSESSED: Felix comes from a family of butchers. As such, his knife skills are not inherently aggressive but are clinical. His combat skills were adequate and will dissuade all but the Careers.
STRENGTHS: His relationship with Tillo will gain sponsors and attention. His allies are an optimal mix of attractive and strong.
WEAKNESSES: I can tell Felix is a great guy. He doesn't want to kill and it will take a lot to make him.
ODDS: 38:1
NOTES: The odds may be in your favor. A Victor couple would serve the Capitol well.
NAME: MOUSE PARENTII
DISTRICT TEN MALE
SKILLS DEMONSTRATED: THEFT
SKILLS ASSESSED: Mouse's unassuming appearance makes him an ideal thief. He's like one of the street urchins in old books.
STRENGTHS: He's easily overlooked
WEAKNESSES: Mouse is especially traumatized by his time in the Arena and was visibly startled at the entrance of the assistants.
ODDS: 55:1
NOTES: Well, you did deal with Mist.
NAME: BRIE MAYBERRY
DISTRICT TEN FEMALE
STRENGTHS DEMONSTRATED: THEFT
SKILLS ASSESSED: Like Mouse, Bree is an innocent-looking child. Her skills were satisfactory although she didn't seem to have her heart in it.
STRENGTHS: The Careers might go after bigger threats first.
WEAKNESSES: Bree has no fighting skills.
ODDS: 72:1
NOTES: Bree and Mouse would be good allies.
NAME: STARLING HEIGHTS
DISTRICT TEN FEMALE
SKILLS DEMONSTRATED: PERSUASION
SKILLS ASSESSED: Instead of a normal skill, Starling announced she would persuade us to give her a good score. She delivered a short speech on her reasons to get home, her relationships with her allies, her past in the Games, and a few other points. She was eloquent and her emotions were controlled.
STRENGTHS: That was a good speech. Her story might gain her sponsors.
WEAKNESSES: Lack of strength.
ODDS: 70:1
NOTES:Oh, I don't know. Good speech. Whatever.
NAME: CALVARY WARSAW
DISTRICT TEN FEMALE
SKILLS DEMONSTRATED: BRAWLING
SKILLS ASSESSED: Calvary clearly comes from a lower-class family. Her attacks included ear bites and eye gouges. The... what do you call them, people who fight Tributes, called off the fight.
STRENGTHS: Willingness to fight dirty, previous performance in Games.
WEAKNESSES: She's kind of grumpy. I don't know if I'd want to sponsor a Tribute that wasn't happy.
NAME: JAY DALLAS
DISRICT ELEVEN MALE
SKILLS DEMONSTRATED: SPEAR, STRATEGY
SKILLS ASSESSED: Ha, "ASSessed". Jay used the spear good. He strategied good.
STRENGTHS: He's kinda cute. He's got that kind of face, you know, like a surfer or somethin.
WEAKNESSES: He's not that cute.
ODDS: 30:1
NOTES: I need another cocktail.
NAME: APOLLO WILSON
DISTRICT ELEVEN MALE
SKILLS ASSESSED: STRENGTH
SKILLS DEMONSTRATED: He picked up the ball thing. It looked heavy.
STRENGTHS: Apollo is like a really strong name. I knew a guy named Apollo once and he was really strong.
WEAKNESSES: Peppermint already won and it would be weird if they both did.
ODDS: 38:1
NOTES: What you want, a novel?
NAME: FRANKIE DISNEY
DISTRICT TEN MALE
SKILLS ASSESSED: ARROWS AND ARROW THROWY THING
SKILLS DEMONSTRATED: Jay shooted some arrows at a target and I think he hit it. It was a long time ago.
STRENGTHS: He's really tall, like at least five feet. Woah.
WEAKNESSES: Frankie is a girl's name.
ODDS: 35:1
NOTES:
NAME: ZACH CONNWEES
DISTRICT ELEVEN MALE
SKILLS DMESONTRATED: WEAPONS OR SOMETHING
SKILLS ASSESSED: Zach wrecked some crap and may be able to wreck crap in the Arena.
STRENGTHS: Yeah, I guess he' strong.
WEAKNESSES: Jay's cooler.
ODDS: 0:1
NOTES: racecar is racecar backwards :o
NAME: WILLOW TRILL
DISTRICT ELEVEN EFMALE
SKILLZ DEMONZTRATED: RUNNING AND STUFF
SKILLS ASSESSED: Yep, she can run.
STRENGTHS: Wilow ispretty small. Careers fight her.
WEAKNESSES: Maybe outrun them?
ODDS: 5:1
NOTES: Willow girl, we should have drinks sometime.
NAME: VALERIA FALLOW
DISTRICT FEMALE TWELVE
SKILLS DEMONSTRAED: NUTHIN
SKILLS ASESSSED: Valerie sucked. She can't do survive.
STREGTHS: Pbbt.
WEAKNESSES: Her FACE!
ODDS: 1 billion million to one.
NOTES: And then he just hung up on me and I was like MEN!
NAME: LARA ANGELO
TWELVE GIRL
SKILLS: WINNING GAMES STUFF
SKILLS: She might win.
STRENGTHS: Nah, her arms were pretty skinny.
WEAKNESSES: My biggest weakness is I tend to just love too much.
ODDS: 1, 3, 5...
NOTES: That's "stone" scrabbled up.
NAME: MARYSUE BROOKLIN
DSITRCTI TWELVE FMEALE
SKILLS: She was really loud. Makin my ears ring.
STRANGtHS: Has two first names
WEAKNESSES: Only 1 last name.
ODDS: 12:1, definiteyl
NOTES: notes.
NAME: NATHSA TRENCH
DISRICT WELVE FMALE
STRENGTHS: NATASHA
WEAKNESSES: Cream soda
ODDS: 123:456
NOES: NATAHA
NAME: AXE TRENCH
DISTRICT TWELVE FEMALE
STENTHS: STABING THINGS FIGHTING THINGS
ASSeSSMENT: His ass is perky and tight.
WEAKNESSS: Lasttime hez real crazy he dieed early.
ODDS: and ends
NOTES: ALMOSTdonekeepswimming
The next morning I peeled my face off the table, popped a hangover pill, and triumphantly limped to Head Gamemaker what's his name the new guy. May he look upon my creation and smile. Nailed it.
I'm only 20, so no word on whether a "Favorable Odds" would be delicious or nasty. It sounds good to me since I have a sweet tooth.
- Writer
