Almar Nichols
Almar Nichols is a tribute in the 62nd Hunger Games.
 | |
| D12M of the 62nd Hunger Games | |
|---|---|
| District | Twelve |
| Age | 16 |
| Weapon | Trident |
| Training Score | 4 |
| Token | None |
| Alliance | NDNTRA |
| Victims | None |
| Place | 17th |
|
played by Tennis | |
Contents |
Early Life
Almar's extreme vanity and arrogance existed to hide the fact that he suffered from severe depression for most of his teenage life. When he was four years old, his parents were executed by Peacekeepers for a crime they didn't commit, and having to comprehend both their unjust treatment and his sudden abandonment as an infant had an extreme negative effect on Almar. He lived with his neighbour's family from the time he lost his parents until his Reaping, and considered them his own parents, never harbouring any resentment for him. For the two years leading up to his death, Almar began to regularly take antidepressants, never admitting to anyone whether they had been obtained by legal means, and these helped him to continue functioning every day, but give him the side-effect of his sometimes abrasive personality. Before he was Reaped, Almar had very few friends, although he knew that he wanted to become a doctor or hospice worker, to be able to help people, when he was past Reaping age.
62nd Hunger Games
Reaping and Training
Almar's neighbours did not have any children of their own, and treated him like their own child, and on the day of the Reaping this was no different. They prepared a large breakfast before accompanying him to the District Square, and the nervousness he had felt on waking had almost totally dissipated due to their love and care for him, and his for them. Almar didn't know Ailis Copper, the female volunteer, but acknowledged that she didn't look like she regretted her decision to volunteer, which Almar admired. When his own name was called, Almar was not afraid or worried, just surprised, and quickly this turned into determination that he would become Victor and return home.
Almar didn't encounter his mentor, Arbor Halt, while he and Ailis were on the train to the Capitol, but did finally meet with him when he arrived at the Training Centre. Almar immediately made it clear that he admired and respected Arbor, calling him "Mr Halt", and this was mostly due to the fact that Almar had studied videos of the previous Hunger Games, particularly Arbor's for much of his life in the District and on the train. Arbor, however, had all but forgotten how to successfully mentor tributes, particularly due to his weak mental state and his breakdown at the end of the 61st Games. Instead of giving Almar any strategic advice, he simply told him it was easier and more merciful just to not win, as it wasn't worth the distress and pain that followed. Almar didn't pay any attention to his warning, retorting that he did indeed want to win, and pleading with Arbor to help him get sponsors. Almar closed the conversation by arguing, soundly, that Arbor knew well enough that everyone fought for their lives every day in District Twelve, and so being in the Hunger Games wasn't much different.
Almar approached District Three tribute Dragan Baron in the Training Centre after he caught Dragan watching him attack a dummy, and first spoke to him in an arrogant and superior tone of voice, perhaps not even thinking of him as a potential ally. When Dragan suggested that they ally with the to other tributes who had come to join the discussion, Alaska Putley and Vitani Loewen, Almar was surprised, not expecting that anyone would propose an alliance with the District Twelve tribute, however he quickly agreed. They called their alliance NDNTRA.
Dragan achieved a 4 in his Private Training Session.
Almar spoke briefly and bluntly in his interview with Caesar Flickerman. He mused that he could still win even with his low training score, like Arbor had done when he obtained a 3. Almar also took the opportunity to reveal that the adults who had raised him were not his real parents, something which he had kept a secret from most people he knew in District Twelve. Finally, Almar closed his interview by admitting that he was determined to win, saying he couldn't wait to go home.
Bloodbath
Almar woke up on the morning of the Bloodbath knowing that this day was the deciding point for the rest of his life. He mused on which tributes he would have to kill to survive, even running through the names of his hypothetical victims. As he waited for his podium to raise him into the arena, Almar thanked his stylist - one of the only people who had actually believed in him during the Training period. Almar's opinion of the Arena was that it was far more beautiful than District Twelve could ever be, and this made him forget about missing "home" at all. Finally, before the gong, Almar thought of his allies - particularly Vitani, who he had developed some feelings for - and how it was important to meet up with them. He thought of them as his friends.
Almar was immediately attacked by the power alliance The Argonauts, however he and his allies retaliated, one of them managing to sever the leg of Career Atlas Cornell, who immediately turned and began to drag himself away from the Bloodbath. NDNTRA continued to attack The Argonauts, raining down on whichever member was nearest to them. Almar himself challenged Peridot Myler, hurling insults at him at the same time that he lunged with his trident. He sustained some serious blows, particularly from Kiera Dempsey who at one points stabbed him deep in the chest, narrowly avoiding killing him. At this point, Almar knew he couldn't afford to remain in the Bloodbath for much longer and survive, so fled, closely behind Vitani, but leaving Dragan behind.
Death
After reaching the River Styx, Almar stopped to wait for the rest of his alliance, however he was aware that something had gone awry and they were no longer all still together. He peformed first aid on himself, although this was futile due to how close he already was to death, however was distracted by the flashbacks in his mind to the deaths he had just witnessed, and so didn't notice Distrit Five tribute Ellea Banks approaching him to attack. Soon after, Ellea was joined by Kiera Dempsey, who attacked Almar without even a pause. As Kiera's Xiphos embedded itself in Almar's already damaged leg, he could no longer hold on to what little life he still had, and let go. In his last moments, he found himself crying, unable to find any mercy in Kiera's eyes. He saw his parents - his real parents - inviting him to join them, and went with them willingly.
