Totsuki Sugihara (16) Victor

After the coronation was over, I went to my room. I didn't really know what to do with myself, now that training was unnecessary and I couldn't fight people anymore. Everything I had done in my life had led up to one big moment, but that moment was past. All I could really do was think about things, and that wouldn't keep me entertained for long.

"Ready for some real fun?" Shale asked me as she walked into my room. "It's about time for your initiation."

"Initiation?" I'd never heard of that. I thought the Coronation was all I got for being a Victor, along with some pride and dough.

"Initiation. We always do something for new Victors, so they're part of the family. Rybbon made a quilt, but I think you'll probably do something a bit more brutish. Technically, the other Victors expect me to choose something for you, but you're not exactly like me. I figured I'd ask you for ideas."

"What type of initiations are there usually? What am I supposed to do?"

"It can really be anything. For all us Victors care, you could just get blackout drunk. It's whatever you want. Generally it's something meaningful, and something that has to do with the Games, but to each their own." Shale sat down on my bed after saying that, letting me think.

I sat there with Shale for a long time, trying to figure something out. I wasn't really a deep, meaningful person. I didn't know what to do. If it wasn't something cool it would ruin my reputation, but I wasn't certain I was ready to do something crazy quite yet.

"I think I have an idea," I told Shale, grabbing for my wire. I rubbed my finger along it, unsurprised to find it too dull to be used for anything other that strangling. I picked up Raze's ti stick, too, and turned to Shale. "Does it have to be exerting?"

"No! I just said that Rybbon made a quilt. It can be calm."

"Then get the Victors together!"

"They're already together. They've been waiting for you," Shale told me, a joking glare in her eyes.

"Oh. All right. Then can we just make some jewelry? It's kinda dumb, but not like, friendship bracelets, or anything. I just have a plan."

"Of course! We do whatever we want. It'll take a bit for us to get things together, but sure."

Shale left after saying that, taking her Victors with her. I sat in my room and waited patiently, occupying myself by counting the seconds until she returned. I counted to three thousand before I lost track, which I thought was pretty good. Shale came in not very long after I lost count, carrying something, trailed by each Victor, each with their own item. "Let's build."

I found myself being led to a dainty Capitol room, with blue and pink walls, and cushions everywhere. It was more peaceful than I was used to, but anything other than white was pretty welcome.

I looked at what each Victor had brought with them. Shale had a little porcelain flower, and Rybbon had a rope. Satin had a satin ribbon, and Talaysa had a glass snowflake. A Capitolite took any solid items from us, offering to drill holes in them, and offered each of us a string. Rybbon, Satin, and I declined the offer, holding our items tightly.

When the Capitolite returned with our charms, each of us got straight to work putting charms on our strings. Rybbon was the first to get her charm on, muttering something about threading a needle. She kept putting charms on, her charms flowing like water, while I struggled to get mine on.

"Here, let me help you," the Victor I thought was Harvest offered. "We're supposed to be bonding, anyways." I let Harvest take my string from me, surprised at how easily he worked with the wire. "Want me to help you put it on?"

"Where'd you get the charm?" Cherry asked me.

"In the Arena. I kinda grabbed it without really thinking," I said, laughing a little at my own nonsense. I didn't regret grabbing the stick. It made perfect sense as a charm for my necklace.

I turned around, allowing Harvest to put the necklace on me. He tied either end of my garrote wire together, practically turning my necklace into a choker. I thought it was fitting. Looking around, I noticed that each of the Victors had something to commemorate an ally and their Arena. I never had an ally in the Games, but my charm certainly symbolized the girl who had been the most important factor in my Games. Raze actually forced me to grow, and to feel fear for the first time in forever. I was happy I had felt that. Losing touch with emotions was useful for the Games, but not for life afterward.

Whew! This was a Games long in the making, but I think it was exciting. Totsuki will be interesting in the future, I'm certain. It's great to finally have this done, and I'm currently working on the form and overview for my next story!