[dohtml]<center>
<style type='text/css'>
span.first
{

float: left;
font-family: Georgia;
font-size: 40px;
font-weight: bold;
line-height: 0.85em;
margin-right: 0.03em;
margin-top:3px;
margin-bottom:-6px;
}
</style>
<div style="width: 475px; text-align:justify;font-family:Arial Narrow, Georgia;font-size:13px;line-height:1;color:#000000; ">
<p><span class="first">T</span>he reaping day. The day when they all, all children across the Panem had a day off school. They received order to gather on the Main Square at two o'clock. A bit afraid of what was about to come Cicero prepared himself to leave his home for good. He won't come back tonight. Or ever. But his close ones didn't know about this. The boy didn't want to worry them. He didn't want his father to look at him as if he was already dead. He didn't want to see Tulia's tears. He didn't want to argue with Aurelie over it.</p>

<p>The decision was made on the day of the Presidents' announcement. Joe and Cicero were going to volunteer no matter who will be reaped. They were prepared for it. She was a tough girl and he went through the basic Peacekeeper training at the end of the war. They trained together for a couple of weeks before reaping, telling everyone that Cicero wants to apply for a full Peacekeeper training when he finishes school.</p>

<p>Now he stood in the crowd of eighteen years old boys. Few minutes later he said good bye to his sister and father, caught a glimpse of Joanne in the crowd. For a second he froze on his spot seeing that she was dressed in a dress. Cicero never saw her in a dress. It made her look more like a girl than like a boy as he used to taunt her.</p>

<p>On the scene he saw the mayor of District Two and someone, who he didn't recognized at first, but later when her face appeared on the big screen above his jaw dropped. It was this woman he "guarded" few weeks ago. What the bloody hell was she doing here? After few minutes of ceremony he understood that she was the one who picked names from two big glass bowls in front. Finally the woman announced that the reaping was about to begin. Keeping his hands in pockets of his jacket, Adonis crossed fingers. The woman read the name of thirteen years old girl named Gina Torrance, who very pale on her face and trembling stepped out of her group, but Joanne reached her before she made a half way toward the scene and pushed her aside, keeping her place in the Games. Cicero closed his eyes and tried to calm down his breath. He was scared. Who wouldn't be?</p>

<p>The next name was a name of his and Joanne's classmate. This time Cicero was quicker. He passed by two Peacekeepers, who stood next to his group, placed hand on his mate's shoulder. "I volunteer!" he shout, waving his hand. Adonis shook hands with the surprised boy and walked proudly towards the scene. Passing by the blond haired woman he winked to her and took his place beside Joe. "Nice dress" he whispered to her, smirking. He caught in the crowd shocked faces of his relatives. The meaning of this whole event didn't reach their minds yet. </p>
<p>OUTFIT</div>


</center>[/dohtml]

[dohtml]<center><div style="border-left: #3A4748 8px solid; border-right: #839175 2px dashed; background: #d8d8d8; padding-top: 16px; padding-right: 16px; padding-left: 16px; padding-bottom: 12px; -moz-border-radius: 10px; width: 400px;">



<div style="width: 400px; line-height: 24px; font-family: georgia; font-size: 40px; text-shadow: #ffffff 1px 0px 1px; color: #3A4748; letter-spacing: -4px; text-transform: lowercase; text-align: center;">
Sacrifice

</div><div style="width: 350px; padding-right: 12px; padding-left: 12px; padding-top: 4px; padding-bottom: 8px; font-family: arial narrow; text-transform: uppercase; font-size: 7px; line-height: 8px; letter-spacing: 2px; text-align: center; color: #343434">

Cold cold heart
Hard done by you
Some things look better baby
Just passing through

</div><div style="font-family: arial narrow; font-size: 12px; line-height: 10px; letter-spacing: 1px; text-align: justify;">

That day she and Cicero have been awaiting finally came. The reaping, that's what it was called. They had a day off from school, so they could be there at the square at exactly two o'clock. Her father was very much excited about it (more than he should have been, in Joe's opinion) and thus he ordered his wife to make his girls looks as pretty as they could. That meant that Joe was forced to wear a dress and before that, her mother did all those beautifying things such as applying make up. Then she made her hair in something Joe couldn't describe, it was a little bit curly at the bottom with two...buns or something like that at the top. <p>

Walking in those clothes to the market, the girl felt extremely silly. She knew her mother wanted only the best and figured that looking presentable at the day you volunteer as tribute is a good idea. She hoped that Cicero will keep his part of the deal and will volunteer with her. Only then it got to her what exactly was she doing, but she knew it was right. It had to be done. If she was someone else, she would want it done for her. Someone was going to keep their child at least a year longer.<p>

When the woman picked the first name from the bowl, Joe knew what to do, she was all ready for that. The girl who was picked was only thirteen and the brunette knew what to do. She reached the girl and pushed her aside, shouting:<p>
”I VOLOUNTEER AS TRIBUTE!| The other girl sighed with relief and Joe was taken to the stage. She felt terrible, her knees were trembling and she was cold in that dress. Joanne knew she had nothing to lose, but the very thought there were 23 chances she might die, scared her. To the public she showed a smile that she rehearsed with Cicero (she did everything to seem more likeable).<p>
Standing there she remembered why she hated to perform in public, when everyone stared at her. It seemed that hours passed before her fellow tribute had finally gotten on that stage, even though it passed merely a few minutes. Somehow, the thought of his presence there with her, made the teenager feel better. When he finally got there and complimented her dress, Joe did two things that were unlike her. First of all, she smiled sheepishly, blushing and second of all, she took his hand into hers. In that way she wanted to tell him how glad she was to have him with her. At least for now....
</div><div style="padding-top: 12px; font-family: arial narrow; text-transform: uppercase; font-size: 7px; line-height: 6px; letter-spacing: 2px; text-align: center; color: #343434;">outfit: here -- words: 444- template by eliza @ shadowplay</div> </center>[/dohtml]

[dohtml]<center>
<style type='text/css'>
span.first
{
float: left;
font-family: Georgia;
font-size: 40px;
font-weight: bold;
line-height: 0.85em;
margin-right: 0.03em;
margin-top:3px;
margin-bottom:-6px;
}
</style>
<div style="width: 475px; text-align:justify;font-family:Arial Narrow, Georgia;font-size:13px;line-height:1; ">
<p><span class="first">J</span>oe blushed. He couldn't believe in what he saw. It was not enough that she wore a dress, but also she smiled to him sheepishly and blushed. And everything was caused by one of his standard comments. Cicero blamed the fact that she was probably as nervous as he was now, standing in front of the whole District and probably watched by thousands citizens of the Capitol.</p>

<p>The girl's hand found his and he instinctively wrapped his fingers with her, squeezing her palm lightly. Cheer up, he wanted to say. We will go through it together. Or die trying.</p>

<p>This last thought, "die trying", scared him. He searched in the crowd faces of his siblings to look at them one more time. The mayor continued protocol, but Cicero totally ignored him. The sight of Tulia's tears forced him to drop his head. He hated himself for what he had done to them. It was the only way to keep them safe, he tried to convince himself. With no success.</p>

<p>Finally, Joe and Cicero were forced to free their hands and led by Peacekeepers inside the Justice Building and locked in separates rooms. Confused, Adonis started to walk around the room, waiting for what was going to happen next.</p>

<p>After fifteen minutes, which seemed like forever for him, the door closed and his family stormed into. Tulia ran to him and fall into his arms, squeezing tightly her arms around his neck. She cried. Aurelie and Juliet seemed to be close to it. His father was calm, but Cicero knew that he was shocked and scared of his only son's fate. Cicero tried to smile, but his muscles failed. He just clenched his teeth and freed Tulia.</p>

<p>"Don't cry, kid" he said wiping her tears. "I'll return. I promise." He took off a necklace she once made for him and hung it on her neck. "You will give it to me when I come back, okay? Tulia, look at me." When she raised her eyes on him he finally was able to smile. "Be brave. I'm not afraid. You shouldn't be too." Cicero kissed her forehead and got on his feet to look at his sisters and father. Without a word Julia and Aurelie hugged him tightly. His father patted his back. "Look…" Cicero said through his knotted throat. He shouldn't cry. The boy blinked to get rid of tears. "Take care of each other, alright? I'll return and we will be rich. I promise."</p>

<p>Their time together passed very quickly. Once again Cicero had to unwrap Tulia's arms, when Peacekeepers walked into the room and told them that it was time to leave. Once again Cicero stayed alone. He waited for new orders.</p>
</div>


</center>[/dohtml]