22nd Throw - [ voice ]

[shenevermisses]

There are some things you just can't teach. Not after a certain point.

[She doesn't sound frustrated or upset. Just... interested, in a way.]

It's weird, in a way. Trying to teach someone to be like me and finding out that's not possible. I mean, we're doing good. Great student.

[For Rue's sake more than anything, she's not going to name her over the journals, not going to divulge what they're doing.]

But there's just something different. How we were brought up. You can't teach that.

Which I guess is why they start us young. Start training us when we're five, where I'm from. Parents who think their kids have potential agree to send them off to the Academy, where they'll only see them maybe every weekend.

Usually less than that.

From there, they weed out the undesirable. The weak, the emotional, the nervous. Every year, there are fewer students your age. By the time we're sixteen or seventeen, there's only the best left.

At that point, only the girls who are stupid enough to get pregnant get sent away.

I guess I never really thought about it, but trying to teach someone else what I grew up with? You realize that some things just can't be taught. Not after a certain point.

Comments

[written, camera obscured]

[shenevermisses]

How to kill.

[Simple enough. And it's all she really needs to say. They'd been trained from the time they were five until seventeen or eighteen. They knew best how to kill.]

[written, camera obscured]

[readytobe]

[WELL THATS INTERESTING...]

And it is a place accepted by your society?

[written, camera obscured]

[shenevermisses]

In my district, it is. Parents pay a lot of money to send their kids there. Outside of my district, it's considered unfair, since it gives us an advantage.

[written, camera obscured]

[readytobe]

An advantage? I would imagine so.

In my world, it is generally illegal to kill someone. It is not in yours?

[written, camera obscured]

[shenevermisses]

That depends where the killing is done. If it's in the Arena? Totally legal. You have to do it, actually.

[written, camera obscured]

[readytobe]

I see. [This sounds messed up, dude. Yet vaguely similar to something HMMM except you know without the. Actually killing part.]

Is everyone required to enter the Arena? Are you allowed to exit after your kill?

[written, camera obscured]

[shenevermisses]

24 are chosen every year. A boy and girl, 12-18, from each of the 12 districts. Only one leaves the Arena -- the lone Victor.

[written, camera obscured]

[readytobe]

Only one child leaves? So every district will lose at least one.

What is the purpose of becoming this Victor? I assume that it is some sort of substantial reward.

[written]

[shenevermisses]

We don't have a choice about going. The purpose of becoming a Victor is to be alive. And there's a brand new, beautiful house and money. Victors don't have to work.

[readytobe]

You do not have a choice?

[shenevermisses]

You get called in the Reaping, you're dragged to the Games. Unless someone volunteers. In my district, we're taught it's an honor to go to the Games, so usually 17 or 18 year olds volunteer.

[readytobe]

Your district has an interesting culture. I assume other districts do not share your feelings towards the Games? [Since only her district trains kids, etc. P.S. this sounds really messed up.]

[shenevermisses]

One, Two, and Four are considered "Career" districts. Our tributes are trained. Other districts don't. Because the Capitol worries they'd use that training to rebel.