Dinner in the Common Room

[Talia Zinten]

Dinner in the common room turned out to be lamb stew with dried plums. The savory odor entranced Talia as she heaved a heavy ladle of the food into her bowl.

The malnourished girl from District Three bolted down two helpings before collecting herself. She had never had food this amazing before!

'William's note had requested tutoring in archery, which may impress the sponsors...' Thought Talia, considering her options. 'though after our spectacle with the chariot, Quinn and I likely will not need any more support from them.'

A bright purple roll caught her eye from a basket near the end of the table, which turned out to taste of fresh strawberries.

'Besides, considering the number of tributes not training traps, I have to conjecture that some are hiding their abilities.

All the sponsor gifts in the world will not assist me as I suffocate, hanging from a branch somewhere...'

Talia shuddered and let the half-eaten roll fall to her plate. Her appetite had suddenly abandoned the girl from District Three.

'Hopefully William understands, his cooperation with Quinn and I will prove beneficial to everyone involved. He was supposed to meet here tonight; wonder where he's gotten to...'

[Harmony Locket]

Harmony joyfully wondered into the room and took a look around. Before she noticed Talia already sitting at, the aroma of the stew struck her chords. She could smell something familiar with the smell of something different. She was taken back. She quickened her step and reached the pot with the magnificent stew bubbling at the surface. Harmony picked up the large wooden spoon for the stew. "Do I smell plums? I DO!" As soon as she starts pouring her bowl, she notice Talia from the corner of her eye. "I apologize for not introducing! My name is Harmony, Harmony Lockett from District 4. I read on the board that you are skilled in the art of archery. How fascinating! I dont even know where to begin stringing a bow, yet alone being able to aim one. William must be on his way for dinner, it would be strange of him not to show. While we wait...let's eat this amazing food shall we?!"

[William Mandela]

"Sorry to keep you all waiting... er... the two of you at least, heh." Wiliam says as he strides into the room. "Oh no! Well I hope you saved some room, damn I really should have come earlier."
A pair of Games Assistants walk in toting domed food carts, the aroma of freshly roasted meats and seafood begin to flood the room. "It's probably too much, but hopefully some more people will join us. Talia this is a speacialty from back in district 4 to celebrate momentous occasions. At least in the poorer parts. Roast tuna head!" The dme of the carts lifts to reveal a rather unpleasant looking, though highly fragrant, giant, tuna head.
Spying the... apprehension, to say the least... of his two cohorts he continues, "never fear, I also brought us this!"
The second cart opens to reveal the most decadently succulent looking roast pig seens in ages. A scarlet apple shines in its mouth like a ruby. "Harmony, the apple is just for garnish, please don't eat it" he chuckles, "there are plenty of fresh ones and more on the table."

[William Mandela]

"Oh and Talia, I wanted to talk to you about training today but I think I have plans figured out. Sorry if I've wasted your time." he says with a chivalrous bow. " I know how dangerous it is to keep someone like you waiting."

[Quinn Watson]

Quinn pops his head into the dining room and looks around. Until his eyes spot Talia, he creeps into the room and awkwardly waves.

“Hey there, I’m Quinn. Talia told me to meet some people.” He scratches the back of his neck.

“So, uh…food, right? I’m sure it tastes wonderful.” He seats himself and serves himself a small portion.

[Adriana "Age" Leaf]

Age helped herself to a portion of the lamb stew and without looking plopped down next to the conversing group of tributes. When she finally tuned into their conversation she paused for a moment, glancing at the members of the conversation. These were some of the toughest and top ranked tributes in the competition. Intimidated, Age stood up suddenly.

"Oh sorry! Is this some kind of planned meeting? I didn't mean to intrude!"

Then she hesitated again and thought to herself 'Wait, I am one of the top ranked tributes. Why am I so afraid of these guys?'

"I'm Age by the way," she said, mostly directing the comment toward Quinn. "Would you guys mind if I sat here?"

[Quinn Watson]

Quinn looks up at Age, then back at the group.

"I didn't think this was supposed to be private." He turns back to Age and shines a wide grin.

"Quinn Watson. Nice to meet you." He turns back to the group and leans back.

"Though, if this is private, you can feel free to tell us to leave or something." He turns back to Age.

"So, you’re from district...ten? Uhh...do you like it there?" Quinn scratches the back of his head and lets out a feeble grin.

[Adriana "Age" Leaf]

"Nah, I'm not much of a city girl. I mean, my nearest neighbor back home is two miles away. Plus, given our situation it's hard to see this place in any sort of positive light unless you're one of those insane arrogant career tributes that train for these things... Oh God, wait, you guys aren't careers, are you? I didn't mean it like that. I mean, I kind of did actually but someone's gotta say it, right?" Age takes a deep breath after speaking a mile a minute. "You don't talk much, Quinn, do you?"

[David Spanial]

David walks into the room, the thin pale boy looks like he could use a good meal. He sits down and grabs a bit of stew. After two small, slow bites, He reaches into his pocket and takes out a couple little plants. He picks one and crumples it up. He throws it in his stew and stirs it. One more bite. David looks over at the group.

"Um- hi. I'm David, from district 11." He pauses and smiles. He's clearly tired. "I'm, uh, hi. How is everyone?"

[Natalya Aeglaeca]

Natalya enters the room and surpasses the lamb stew and bee lines to the borscht "A piece of home," she though. At least this one looks edible. She helped her self to a bowl and some pie and sat at the nearest table and looked over towards the other tributes.

[Quinn Watson]

Quinn gold eyes light up and he holds back a smile.

"No, not really. Nobody really listens, they just tell me to get back to work." He lets out a laugh and then quickly adds.

"And work doesn't include slaying small children, if that answers your question at all." Quinn's posture begins opening up in his chair and he looks over to see David joining them.

"Good to meet you, David." He then spots Natalya down the table sitting by herself. He begins to make a small, awkward waving gesture, but then realizes he is in a broad public space and thinks against that idea and instead says calls out at a slightly louder volume,

"Hey, you should join us." He pauses and quickly adds,

"if you want to." Quinn adds a smile. Then he turns back to Age.

"So, you're not a city girl...but, what about the lights?" He says with a hopeful grin.

[William Mandela]

Sensing the awkward energy in the room of what was supposed to be a sociable event, William tries to lighten the mood. "Listen, if thiswas supposed to be private I wouldn't have posted it on the bulletin board. Everyone and anyone is allowed in here." He then trusts his fork deep in the tuna head's eye and prys it from its socket, slurping the meaty morsel down with a wet, satisfying smack. "You know, a lot of people overlook it, there's a lot of good meat on the face.

He takes a sideways glance at age and softly says, "you know, not every career is in this for pomp, or pride, or some kind of machizmo showing..."

[Quinn Watson]

Quinn watches the kid from district four eat an eyeball.

"What for then? Did you volunteer?" He asks with curiosity.

[Natalya Aeglaeca]

Natalya forces an awkward smile and then picks up her tray and joins the other tributes. "hello", she states a little to loudly and then looks down slightly annoyed at herself. "how are you?"

[David Spanial]

"Haha! That's gross. Have you eaten eyeballs before?" David gently puts another spoon of stew in his mouth.

"Um... Do you guys know anything about Alys? The little 12 year old. She helped me today and I kinda want to repay her."

[Adriana "Age" Leaf]

"She seems like the quiet innocent type and I know she's looking for people to be in an alliance." Age said with a cheek full of bread. "She didn't rank well, but I bet she has more talent than she's letting on. Maybe it's part of her strategy." She swallowed. "And no, Quinn. I'm not a fan of the lights. I work better under the cover of night."

[Katie James]

Katie pokes her head in and smells the seafood. After finding out this was meant to be a more public gathering, she decided to head on in.

"Alright then, I didn't want to intrude but I rarely get a chance to eat such good looking food. Especially not seafood like this."

She grabbed a plate and started to pile a ton of food on top of it. She sits down and starts eating and with a mouth full of food says, "wow, my compliments to the chef, but then again, when it comes to seafood, I'm probably a terrible judge of quality." She swallowed and continued, "it's not like we get a lot of fish in district 11."

[William Mandela]

"Yeah, I kinda did..." William said. His face starts to rush and his heart skips a beat.

("I don't really know if I should tell them," he internalizes, "would it make a difference? No, its too soon. They might forfeit me, or arrest me, or... worse." No, it was definitely best to keep up appearances.)

"That Alys girl is actually one tough cookie. Don't let her age fool you."

"And yes, for your information, eyeballs happen to be a delicacy." He peels away the fish's gill cover, exposing the gelatinous meat of the cheek and scoops it out intact. He holds it at arms length, offering it to any and all takers. "Who wants one? Theres two of everything..."

[David Spanial]

"She is tough. She knocked me right in the face today during training. She got me good too."

David's energy is starting to pick up even though he hasn't had much to eat. He smiles a large toothy smile.

"William, you're a funny guy. I'll have to pass on the fish eye though. I've had too many already. Maybe you can give it to Jaden though, he could use another eye. Haha!"

David is starting to enjoy himself, maybe a bit too much. But he hadent really been around people for a while. He was still figuring it out.

"Ah, you guys." David chuckles.

[Quinn Watson]

Quinn turns to Natalya and makes a small laugh. A pleasant, wide smile crosses his face.

"I'm doing pretty good, this is kind of exciting. How about yourself?" Then Quinn’s attention turns; everyone seems to be talking about Alys. He listens, but it looks like he doesn’t seem to have anything to add to the conversation. Then he hears Age's comment.

"Oh...I didn't mean to sound...I don’t know. They just cover my district so, I've grown to like them." He smiles.

"It makes me miss home a little less...if that's possible. It's hard to miss something that I never really liked." Quinn begins to stare out a little blankly and then Katie enters and joins them. Quinn waves hello, and then turns his attention to William and leans back in his chair.

"Oh! I'm sorry, I didn't mean to...unravel a dark secret or anything like that!" Quinn looks down at the ground, but then recovers himself.

"But, hey, I'll try one of those." He takes a piece and gives it a try.

"Tastes like fish." Quinn shrugs his shoulders and gives a small smirk. Quinn looks at David and can't help but laugh along.

[William Mandela]

William stares wall-eyed, fretting Quinn's statement. ("Did I just say that out loud? No, I couldn't have, right? Right?")
Eager to change the subject, he blinks and continues, "Haha, yeah, I'm not sure what you expected. If they could find a way to make fish taste like beef, my district would be out of a job!"

[David Spanial]

David notices Katie. He hadent spoken to her since the first day. He figured he should say hi.

"Hey, Katie how's your time here going? The food is good right?"

[William Mandela]

William smiles, ear-to-ear. "I admit that the vast majority of this feast was made by the staff, but the fish was all me!", he boasts. "The secret is freshness. I had this guy flash frozen on the boat that caught it and it's spent the entire time here in deep chill, cost me all the money i had to bribe the cooks... I figured this may be the last time I have to be able to actually enjoy it, and i figured I'd share it", still bearing a toothy grin.

[David Spanial]

David notices that it's late. He smiles at Katie and leaves.

[Natalya Aeglaeca]

Natalya replies to Quinn: "It's defiantly an experience."