Natasha wrote:

The Sponsor Purses Updated:

 

Champion Purses Updated:

 "Very well, Tenka," Natasha answers with a grin. Taking the money with stride and a nod of thanks, "I will send Akiko the smores ration packet for $2500.00."

She then turns to Verdi, and grins wickedly, "Thank you so much, I will use this money wisely."

Natasha uses the money from Verdi and tosses it in with her own to buy Akiko 1 dynamite for $5000.00, and caffiene pills (2 pills, at +4 energy each) for $4,000.00.


"This will be most interesting," Natasha whispers to herself, before looking up at the screen. "Don't let me down, Akiko." 

spoiler:

In his own quarters, watching the games on his own viewscreen, Dome was still in shock over the event that had just transpired. His last tribute was dead, he had failed them both. He sat on floor, head in his hands, personally refusing to partake of any Capital luxuries such as their chairs in this moment of grief. 
He thought back on to the first night, the interviews where both his tributes had been so full of life, energy, a will to survive and win. 
Now they were dead. Children, dead. Killed by other children for this morbid entertainment. He shook as tears began to flow down his cheeks, and he was beset by flashbacks of his own time in the arena, his own kills and near death experiences. 

He sobbed quietly for what seemed like ages. Wracked with grief and terror brought on by flashbacks. He felt as if his mind was cracking. His thoughts dark and miserable, he contemplated ending it right here, right here in this luxury hellhole called The Capitol. 
He forced himself to stop shaking, wiped the tears from his eyes and found the strength to stand. He of course was allowed no weapons in the Capitol, but he was able to find a rather nasty looking carving knife from his small selection of eating utensils. But before he could do anything, before he was able to summon the will, he remembered something, or rather, someone.

Carson. And Thunder. He remembered his parting conversation with the old champion before he left, the intense moment when thunder had told him not to let them down, and his own resolve to help Thunders last remaining tribute as well.

He thought about this for some time, it only seemed right that he fulfill his promise.
With newfound resolve, he prepares to leave his quarters And visit the sponsor lounge. Surely some of them would still be up at this hour. This hour? He glances at the clock on the wall, unbelievable! Barely thirty minutes had passed since he had first slumped to the floor in grief. It was amazing how long it had felt in his head as he had wrestled with his torment.

Dome quietly leaves his room and heads down to the sponsors lounge. 
Entering, he is surprised to see nearly all the sponsors still present and awake, discussing no doubt what had just happened in the games. 

He takes a moment to decide who to approach. Rei and verdandi had both given him money for his now dead tribute and seemed unlikely to surrender more so soon after. Then there was natasha, speaking to the hugely rotund woman he vaguely recalled as being named Tenka. But no, natasha was akikos sponsor, she would not hep him at this stage of the game.
Then there was mercury, viola, and Ai no all sitting together. Surely one of them would agree with his proposal.

Dome approached the three sponsors who were sitting in the corner lounge area. "Good evening my dears, quite the exciting turn of events, yes? My poor dear Heidi was a fighter to the very end, she was doing so well too. That Akiko. Has quite the grand advantage over the others with her armor, weapons and supplies afforded to her by her dedicated sponsor." 
He finishes this by shooting a dirty look in Natasha's direction. Turning back to the three, he continues.
"My dear lovely ladies, I come to you this evening with an exciting proposal. Something to really give the games an exciting dramatic finish it surely deserves. If we look back over the past few days, there has been one tribute in particular who has done exceedingly well without little outside help. His courage and ferocity have as yet been unmatched in this years games, and he is without a doubt in my mind the ONLY tribute remaining who stands a a chance of challenging the now dominant Akiko."
He pauses for dramatic effect.
"Carson, my dear ladies, Carson is the dark horse in this event and has shown time and time again that he has the skills, the tenacity, and the will to win this years games. Ladies, he IS this years champion.
But despite all this, that damned Akiko still unfortunately has a slight upper hand when it comes to their gears.
 I am proposing this, if each of you contribute a modest sum of $7,000, we can outfit Carson and make him more than a match for Akiko, which will no doubt lead to the ultimate showdown between them,  and assure his place here in the Capitol, championing for next years games."

He looks them each in the eyes for a brief moment. 
"Ai-no? Mercury? Viola? Do I have your support my dears?"

Natasha glares at Dome. She walks up to him and whispers sweetly in his ear, "My tribute will have your tribute for breakfast, just like with Heidi."

spoiler:

Dome laughs in Natasha's face. "Oh dear, you have no idea. You're just scared of Carson, as Akiko is no doubt as well. And you should be. They are destined to fight each other and it will be a glorious victory for him. Just you wait."

Viola:

 

How Akiko and Carson's Battle will go: