One-Way With No Return {Lorenza/Lullaby/Ivar}

[Kaplan]

They look different, born amongst the beasts
An animal is the same even in disguise
No one can tame them, they go out late, they come back late,
With foolish eyes, scratches on their knuckles
I'm no better, I've already been in a fight

Lorenza Aita
47th Maze Victor
District One

It had officially been one year since Lorenza was chosen for the 47th Maze. It was getting closer to one year since her victory, too. When she returned home to her family after she was released from the hospital in the Capitol where she was being treated for her injuries, they greeted her with a combination of hugs and tears. They were extremely glad to see her alive, as it had looked so much like it would be the end for her multiple times- especially in the finale, both against Braylon and against Kaydence. Sometimes, Lorenza wished it had  been the end for her. Then, she wouldn't have been a killer today. She'd killed Braylon, but more importantly, she killed Kaydence- a friend. An ally. Someone she cared about. Someone she was supposed to protect. She was supposed to protect the girl, but instead, she had murdered her.

Lorenza's guilt would never fade. She'd never quite feel whole again. What happened in the Maze didn't just stay in the Maze. Instead, it stayed with her, and it wouldn't be going away anytime soon, if it ever did at all. With what she'd been asked to do now, it certainly seemed like an impossibility to get it out of her mind. She was asked- no- told by the Capitol that she would be mentoring the new runners who came through. At least this time, there could be more than one victor. With seven of them possibly being allowed to win, it meant that maybe, just maybe, she wouldn't have to watch these kids that she was supposed to give advice to perish on the television screen.

The train had picked her up in the Capitol, as she'd been vising there rather than at home at the time, and the selection ceremony in District One was broadcast on a television on the train, meaning Lorenza was sitting there, watching. The stunningly gorgeous girl who'd been selected seemed all too enthusiastic about it, as she quite literally skipped up to the stage. Miss Aita assumed that the girl must be a career. Then again, in a way, Lorenza was a career, too. She just wasn't very enthusiastic about it. She'd been basically dragged into training by her family and friends. Just because she trained didn't mean she wanted to be in the Maze. 

When the next name was called, a different boy volunteered instead. He looked tough, pushing his way through the crowd and making his way to the front. The way he held himself reminded her of Braylon, in a way. That wasn't something that Lorenza was looking forward to. then again, how could she be certain as to how his personality would be? She just had to hope she wasn't like that murderous monster she'd been forced to kill. Braylon deserved death. She just hoped that she wouldn't feel the same about this boy.

As the train stopped in District One, it didn't take long for the runners to arrive on board. Lorenza rose from her seat when they did, wanting to be respectful and make a good impression. She didn't want the runners she was supposed to educate to end up hating her, after all. She gave a slight smile when they came into the train car she was in, but didn't want to seem like she was happy they were there, because, in all honesty, she wasn't. She hated the idea of these kids having to go through what she did. She just wanted to give off a friendly vibe that wasn't too intimidating.

"Hello," she said to them simply.

[EMS]

Ivar

I am not afraid.

A cocky grin plasters itself against my face. This is the moment that I've been waiting for, and yet it's one that I'll never have a chance to live. I should've been the one standing on the stage last year. I should've been the one wearing the crown, but now is my chance. Now is the chance to make up for all that I had lost. Father pushed me to the limits, and it's time to prove that his training routine paid off. I've tore the arms off dummies. I've crushed fake skulls - I look forward to the day I can do that inside the maze.

And now I stand in the midst of all the media telling them they'll see me again.

I've never been outside the district before - never had the time when all I'm doing is clawing away trying to climb towards the top of the ladder of the greatest people to ever live, but when I board the train, all I can see is Lorenza smiling. I admire her for bringing home the crown, yet I'll never let her know that because I don't want it to go to her head. Nobody deserves to have their head grow bigger because someone gave them news they needed to hear.

All I do is nod my head letting her know that I hear her, but I don't care about her. I don't care what she has to say - I've trained for this day. I've earned the right to stand on this train, and I don't need her guidance.

I don't need anyone's guidance because I can do this on my own.

I take a seat next to the window hoping she just leaves me alone, but maybe I can at least pretend that I care. All I've ever wanted was a chance to prove just how strong I am, and with more victors being allowed this year, I don't have the same chance that she did. I don't have the capability of wearing the single crown. I can't be the sole survivor like she is.

And that pisses me off.

But I will wear a crown if it's the last thing I do.

A heavy sigh leaves my lips as I fold my arms across my chest in disgust, yet a half grin spreads across my face.

"Let me guess, you're going to tell us how to win, right?" My jaw twitches as the words leave my lips, and I can feel joy bubbling inside; "Do you even care if we live or die?"

[cameo]

Lullaby Luther

Horror welcomes the likes of Lullaby upon the Train - okay perhaps not exactly horror. It was to be expected that the latest Victor would be gleaming by now over her single accomplishment, after a year to weep over killing her allie in the finale. Yet sorrow still contorts the delicately fierce face of Lorenza Aita, even if she manages to poker-face it well. Sure she might provide a petite grin in greeting to her new Mentees, but it’s not like Lully was born yesterday. Her eyes narrow in disappointment, especially so when her District Partner claws the edge of the cart towards a window probably to wallow in his own personal misery. The Blonde could already tell this was going to be a very long train ride.

A simple hello flutters from the Victor, which forces Lully to return the grin upon her face in confidence of enjoying this journey of her’s. It’s not like they were traveling towards their demise; she could feel it in the depths of her core that district one’s winning streak was brewing upon the horizon. To no surprise, however, Ivar has to completely ruin her positive attitude though - assuming to their Mentor that she was going to provide the equation and easy solution to winning a Maze, sarcasm. And then he questions if she even cares over whether they live or die, self-pity.

“Do you even care, Mr. Debby Downer?” Lullaby replies harshly in return, though a sweet pitch still cradles her tune. “Sounds like you’re looking forward to your death by that sarcasm of yours.” She fidgets through the luxurious within the room, taking a bite of a pastry - putting the rest back, over and over again. “I only get a short while being a Runner before I’m a Victor. So let me enjoy it, or I’ll make sure you die as quickly as it seems you want to.” A few bottles of the liquors, she’s forbidden to consume at home, are sniffed - until a sweet one lingers in her nostrils, and she decides to take a swig. Despite the amount of sugar though, it still squishes her face in reaction to it’s bitter taste. “My apologies for my District Partner, Ms. Zaza. Please enlighten us with your wisdom.” The Blonde requests, deciding to take a glass of the substance that has such a bitter-sweet flavor to it. She will be enjoying this time of her’s.

[Kaplan]

They look different, born amongst the beasts
An animal is the same even in disguise
No one can tame them, they go out late, they come back late,
With foolish eyes, scratches on their knuckles
I'm no better, I've already been in a fight

Lorenza Aita
47th Maze Victor
District One

When it came to being a mentor, Lorenza truly had no idea what she was doing. She'd just have to make her best guess as to what advice would be best to give to the runners who'd been selected to represent District One. When the male runner spoke to Lorenza, though, she was reminded even more of what Braylon was like. He was rude and full of himself. Clearly, this boy thought he could win without help. It caused Lorenza to end up wondering if he'd even go about making allies. There was no way he'd get through the Maze without them. No one would survive in there without help from at least one other person. If it weren't for her allies, Lorenza doubted that she would have made it out alive.

The boy sighed heavily, folding his arms and looking rather irritated with Lorenza's presence.

"Let me guess, you're going to tell us how to win, right?"  the boy- or perhaps young man- said to her. "Do you even care if we live or die?" The latter of the two questions was what irritated Lorenza. Or course she cared if they lived or died. Even if this boy was a complete ass, she wanted him to live. No one deserved to die in that Maze for as long as they were innocent. Unfortunately, it was hard for anyone to get out while retaining that innocence, as many of the runners would have to kill if they wanted to be one of the victors. Lorenza certainly wasn't innocent anymore- she'd killed Braylon and Kaydence. Did this mean that she didn't deserve to be alive, either?

"Or course I care!" Lorenza shot back immediately. "I don't want anyone to die in this Maze, no matter who they are. I saw too many people die in front of me to want anyone else to have to deal with that," she told the boy by the name of Ivar. Before she had the opportunity to say anything else, though, the much cheerier of the pair, the beautiful girl by the name of Lullaby, spoke up in response to her District Partner.

"Do you even care, Mr. Debby Downer?" Lorenza couldn't help but let a slight smile cross her lips. She liked this girl. “Sounds like you’re looking forward to your death by that sarcasm of yours." The girl seemed to be taking in everything around her, which included doing so quite literally, as well, when it came to the food. “My apologies for my District Partner, Ms. Zaza. Please enlighten us with your wisdom."

The last set of words that emerged from Lullaby were a combination of an apology for Ivar's behavior and a request for her so-called wisdom. Lorenza didn't feel as if she really had any wisdom to share. Perhaps she did, but she couldn't think of what it was. At least, she didn't know what would be helpful to them. The main thing she could suggest was to make allies- friends- even if you can't all make it out alive. This just made her miss Kaydence more, thinking of that.

"No worries, Miss Luther," Lorenza Aita said to the female runner. "I'm not sure how enlightening it will be for you, but we can talk about some advice that I have for you before we arrive in the Capitol, if you'd like," she said, trying her best to remain professional and keep in her emotions. The Capitol was always watching, after all.

"The main advice I have for you both is to make friends. Allies, if you can. People who don't want you dead." She said this to them and then turned her gaze to Ivar in particular. "Enemies aren't what you're looking for here," she said with a slight smile that implied she wasn't threatening him, but instead trying to help him, all the while making a point.

[EMS]

Ivar

Lorenza fought back. Maybe she is stronger than she seems, but nevertheless, I don't care. Yet the grin twisting across my face grows even larger especially when Lullaby reacts. She thinks she's so special, and I want to knock that out of her. No need for her to think that I want to die because I am going to be one of the few making it out of this stupid thing alive. Why else would I have volunteered?

"I'm only looking forward to your death, honey." I keep myself calm as I wipe every emotion away.

But why apologize for something that isn't her fault? Why say that she's sorry for me? Who does this little girl think she is? She has no right to even address me like that.

"Like anyone needs to apologize for anything. Wisdom isn't needed anyway." I cock my head to the side before shifting my gaze towards Lorenza; "I don't even know why I'm listening to your advice."

My eyes turn back towards the window as I watch the world travel by. Lorenza's words barely reach my ears, and she's talking about enemies;

"That's where you're wrong. I don't want enemies? Well then apparently talking to you is wrong because every single person here is the enemy. I will wear a crown, and I don't need your help getting it." I turn towards my district partner, "And don't you ever try to insult me again or I'll kill you myself."