Riker Mills
Riker Mills is a tribute in the 62nd Hunger Games.
 | |
| D5M of the 62nd Hunger Games | |
|---|---|
| District | Five |
| Age | 16 |
| Weapon | Switchblade |
| Training Score | 7 |
| Token | None |
| Alliance | Morbid Sitcom |
| Victims | None |
| Place | 11th |
|
played by Aquarianfire | |
Contents |
Early Life
Trigger Warning: Abuse and Sexual Assault
Riker came from an abusive family, which left him traumatised, causing his negative outlook on life and bad attitude, and sometimes driving him to be verbally abusive to others. His father, the perpetrator of the emotional and physical harm, died when he was seven, leaving his mother and older brother. Soon after, his mother's brother moved into their home to help sustain the family, but Riker disliked him greatly because he tried to act like a substitute for Riker's father. When Riker had just turned sixteen, he was on a date with a girl, got drunk, and sexually assaulted her. He didn't feel any regret for his actions and even felt exhilarated by having so much power. He assaulted several other girls before he was Reaped, each time pressuring them into a sexual relationship and then threatening them violently into not telling anyone.
Before the Games
Before his Reaping, Riker's usually violent and harsh personality was softened somewhat by an encounter with Phoebe Mystervine in the District Square. Although their meeting began with awkward small talk, Riker quickly saw an opportunity to develop their acquaintance on his own terms, as he had done with girls in the past. However, after learning that Phoebe also came from a dangerous home, where she was constantly beaten by her own father, Riker lost his evil intentions and felt sympathetic and much warmer to the girl. The two kissed, and Riker found that he no longer had a desire to overpower Phoebe, and even felt guilty for his past actions towards girls. However, quickly Riker's lust overtook his good sense, and Phoebe had to push him away, panicking about how far their actions could go. Phoebe slapped Riker, and in impulsive retaliation Riker punched her in the face - the first time he had ever hit one of his female companions, and this drove Phoebe away.
62nd Hunger Games
Reaping and Training
Riker's nervousness at the Reaping manifested itself as dumb obliviousness. He mainained this apathy even as his name was called and he walked up to join his District partner, Ellea Banks on the stage. As he looked out at the other children in the Square, Riker didn't think about his family or even about Phoebe, who he hadn't seen since their first encounter.
Although Riker never formally met with his mentor, Lethe Turner, he did quickly find the tributes who he would soon enter the Bloodbath with as allies. Riker was first approached by Damion Winters, who had already decided that Riker would be an ally, in the Training Centre. Once the two got talking, Phyllis Roman reluctantly joined their discussion, driven by her desperation to find an alliance, and finally Lydie Mansonna also came towards them, however hung back for a while to assess the quality of the alliance, first. Once she was satisfied, Lydie suggested that in order to get sponsors, the alliance should pretend to be romantically involved - Riker with Phyllis, and Lydie with Damion. Due to Riker's history with girls before Phoebe, he was uncomfortable having to pull off a real-looking relationship and, although he was unaware of it, Phyllis had her own serious reasons for not wanting to become romantically involved with a stranger. However, the four agreed to try to pull off the stunt, and named their newly-formed alliance Morbid Sitcom.
Riker achieved a 7 in his Private Training Session.
Riker was energetic and humourous in his interview with Caesar. At one point, he was shaken by a question about a "special someone" at home, which made him think of Phoebe, and how he had struck her the last time he saw her. The rest of his answers, however, were fairly neutral, showing humour rather than any real emotions. Riker left the stage wishing good luck to his fellow tributes.
Bloodbath
Riker was nervous to enter the Games, but not because of the fact that he would very likely die all too soon. Instead, he was afraid to feign a relationship with Phyllis as part of Morbit Sitcom's agreed strategy. Thinking about his life before the Reaping, Riker found himself regretting the crimes he had committed, and thought that he deserved to die in the Games. After ascending on his podium, Riker waited there even after the gong rang out to find his allies with his eyes. Riker's alliance avoided being attacked in the fray for the first few moments, and Riker even managed to lash out at Aria Wolfe, knocking her hand just as she was lunging for another attack. Damion joined him and also targeted Aria, waiting for the other two members of their alliance to meet up with them, too. However, Riker suddenly felt a throwing knife slice his back, thrown by Alaska Putley, quickly followed by an arrow launched by Dragan Baron landing deep in his chest, and a lunging attack from Vitani Loewen, too. Riker turned on Alaska, even though Dragan and Vitani were still raining blows down on him, but after just one more attack Riker could see his situation was futile. He turned and fled, followed soon after by Damion.
Day 1
Fleeing the Bloodbath with Damion, and having found his two female allies too, Riker stumbled upon Aria, who was tending to her brother and fellow tribute, Bran. The four immediately attacked Aria with their weapons, however she was quickly defended by Ellea Banks, who deeply wounded Lydie's arm. Before the alliance could flee or retaliate again, the fight was joined by Ailis Copper, Kiera Dempsey, Wednesdae Drummond, and Demeter Merwin-Glory, all of whom also attacked Lydie, killing her. Finally, the remaining members of Morbid Sitcom came back to their senses and fled, leaving the other tributes to fight between themselves.
Day 2
Waking up on Day 2, one ally down, Riker thought about his fake romance with Phyllis. His thoughts, however, were cut short by the appearance of a large, three-headed Cerberus-esque muttation. One of the "dog"'s heads lunged for Riker, deeply scraping the back of his head. After several attacks both ways, Riker finally landed a blow on the muttation which seemed at first to have killed it. Then, with a superhuman strength that matched its demonic status, the dog raised its heads once again for another attack. Nether of the other two tributes were able to kill it with their next attacks, so when Riker lunged for it a second time, he dealt it its final blow. Riker thought his heroic actions - twice - might have made Phyllis develop some real attraction for him, however he couldn't tell for sure. The three tributes fled the killing ground, amazingly managing to survive another day.
Day 3
Late in the morning of Day 3 of the Games, Riker, who wished he was already dead by this point, and his allies ran into Naveen Casovnik. Naveen, who seemed to have been driven insane already, after only two full days in the Arena, unnerved Riker by stroking his face like she already knew him, and calling him the name of her fallen ally, Theseus Rhodium, but he still saw the value in having a fourth ally again and, lead by Damion, accepted her into Morbid Sitcom.
Day 3 brought another set of muttations to Riker's alliance, namely three Stymphalian birds. As soon as one attacked Phyllis, Riker lunged in to defend her, aware that Naveen and Damion were doing the same. His first attack missed as the birds swooped above them, and his allies took this as a sign that they wouldn't be winning this battle any time soon, elected to turn and flee. Before they got away, the birds landed two more heavy blows on Phyllis, deep cuts on her back and leg, however they all managed to flee successfully.
Day 4
During the night between days 3 and 4, Riker and his alliance were plagued with horrifying nightmares, which still stayed with them when they woke. Every member of the alliance blindly tried to fight off the spectres from their nightmares, not knowing that while they fought the monsters, they too were fighting each other. Riker even turned on himself, seeing horrific visions all around him. Despite this, most of the attacks landed on Phyllis who, unnoticed by an insane Riker, was struck down and killed. When the fog cleared, and Riker realised what they had all done, he cradled Phyllis' dead form, stroking her hair, crying, and promising her that he would eventually join her in death.
Day 5 and Death
Riker and Damion, having been left by Naveen the previous night, returned to the River Styx, where they encountered "power alliance" The Argonauts, freshly missing member Kiera Dempsey, who had fallen victim to the same Morpheus nightmares that Riker's own alliance had on the pervious day. The two alliances quickly engaged in battle, with the Argonauts being the first to strike, targeting Riker. Riker, Damion and Naveen in turn decided to attack Aria, hoping that their joint efforts might fell one tribute as they wouldn't be able to manage all three. It seemed they had underestimated Aria's strength, as she lunged back at Riker, severing his leg at the hip and toppling him. Riker knew that at that point the end had come, and his feeble next attack missed entirely. It took only a few more of The Argonauts' swings and blows to end Riker's life, with Peridot Myler dealing the final hit.
