We never know who the Careers mentors were, but I like to think it was Gloss for District One and Brutus for Two.
***
Gloss was fairly new at the mentoring thing and he sighed as he watched the latest pair train. Of course they were talented, most District One tributes were, but they didn't stand out. Marvel was excellent with a spear but in every other aspect he was a bore. Glimmer was exceptionally pretty but her weapons talent was very limited and at best, average. Cashmere yawned next to him.
"Looks like another District Two win." she said grumpily. Gloss nodded in agreement. Those two had a spark. They were the perfect set for the games. Cato was close to being the biggest in the games besides District whatever (Gloss couldn't remember, nor did he care) and his sword wielding was an expert's, if not the best. Clove was small, but deadly. She could give Gloss a run for his money in knife throwing. He watched her technique and knew that she was born for knives and the games.
"There's something between them." he said.
"You're right. We arranged for Cato and Glimmer to be a couple but Cato appears to be taking more of an interest in Clove." Cashmere agreed seeing them interact in the training session, moving as one and taking down the automated tributes in five seconds flat.
"It's a bit disgusting how careless the District Two lot are. They're all for gore and blood. Can't they ever just put on a good, clean show?" Gloss wondered as he watched Cato rip open a dummy.
"It's their nature. Not everyone can live the lavish lifestyle we do, but also be as deadly." Cashmere replied with a flip of her long, blonde hair.
"Still, you'd think their manner in the way they kill would be more of a precise, clean kill rather than...this." Gloss said. He was describing the way Clove and Cato were blood thirsty but not in the way he saw blood thirsty. Gloss believed being blood thirsty meant winning and taking anyone down in the process, but they brought a new meaning to it. He saw the gleam in their eyes when they imagined spilling blood. It would always be for the honor and glory, but they almost enjoyed the kill. Basked in the pride of watching the blood run onto the ground and knowing they eliminated yet another. All Careers didn't mind getting their hands dirty, but not many but the unhinged ones wanted to practically bathe in the kill. Their arbitrary cravings to kill made them unstable, but all the more deadlier.
***
"Glimmer looks like the woman of every man's dreams." Cashmere commented as she watched her tribute walk out like the model she was.
"She certainly fits the sex goddess category." Gloss acknowledged.
They watched as Glimmer flirted with Caesar and the crowd with just the right amount of teasing and sincerity. Cashmere smiled in success as Glimmer exited the stage. Her tribute had a personality at least. Marvel walked on and Gloss groaned. He had told Marvel to go with the comedic perspective. But in all honesty, Marvel was about as interesting as a stick. Gloss practically fell asleep during his interview.
"She certainly cleans up nicely." Cashmere sniffed as Clove sat down next to Caesar. Gloss glared at the small brunette as she smirked her way through the interview. Seemingly a somewhat sweet girl with the strange desire to kill.
"Now, Clove" Caesar says, "your odds are 5-1. I'd say they're excellent odds, do you believe they're accurate?"
"Accurate?" Clove laughed, "Not even close, in a few weeks they'll wish they made my odds higher when I'm once again sitting here, crowned as Victor."
Gloss and Cashmere were silent. They believed she could be correct. Gloss looked off to the side of the stage and saw Cato smirking almost with pride. It was strange because Gloss thought he'd look furious after hearing his district partner claim she'd be alive and well, while he'd be dead. But Cato didn't look fazed at all. Gloss almost shared his thoughts with Cashmere but decided not to and just would watch to see how this would play out. Cato came on next and it wasn't hard to tell which angle he came from. The ruthless killing machine.
