Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Match 24: Peeta (6) vs. Daemon (11) goes to DAEMON!

AND THE WINNER IS.... DAEMON!!!


Welcome to The YA Sisterhood's YA Crush Tourney 2.0! We hope that through this all you will meet a lot of book loving people, discover new books, and of course be introduced to many more dreamy crushes!

Be aware that we have tried to keep all the posts pretty general, but there might still be some spoilers. If the spoiler is big, it will be marked. However, still proceed with caution!

Matches will run for 24 hours, 12am to 12am every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. For more information please check out our Tournament Page.

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Hey guys!
My name is Brenna and I'm the blogger behind Esther's Ever After. I am absolutely THRILLED to be the #TeamPeeta advocate for this year's YA Crush Tournament!

Peeta is one of my absolute favourite YA boys out there, and I love spreading the love for the boy with the bread.

Tell us about your crush's...

Personality:
One of the things I love about Peeta is that he's one of the first "nice guys" in  YA who proves that they don't ALWAYS finish last (and can be just as popular as their bad boy counterparts)!

Peeta's thoughtful and caring- he can recognize when someone in need needs his help and he isn't afraid to stand up and do something about it. Even if it means some personal sacrifice on his part. Not only that but he's extremely brave, and often does put himself in harms way to help others, especially Katniss.

But one of my favourite aspects of Peeta's personality is that he's clever, as well. Rather than trying to use sheer force and strength to win the Games, he strategizes in order to come up with a plan (*minor spoiler for the first book: which will hopefully guarantee that Katniss wins, even if he doesn't). *SPOILER* And he's able to use his cake frosting skills to help camoflauge himself and keep himself alive, proving that not only is he physically strong (as Katniss explains, he does work at a bakery and pull around bags of flour) but intelligent and capable too.

Looks:
When Peeta's name is called as a tribute during the Reaping in District 12, Katniss describes him as "medium height, stocky build, ashy blonde hair that falls in waves over his forehead." She also mentions he has blue eyes.

And we all know that because he's hauling around these flour bags all day, that he's got to have nice arms. I mean, REALLY nice arms. *sa-woon*



Talents:
His cake frosting skills and their relation to his ability to use camoflauge (*minor spoiler* during the games) have already been mentioned but that's HUGE - it proves that the games are about much more than skill with a bow and arrow or outright killing.

And Katniss also mentions to him during training for the Games that he's strong because she's seen him throw around bags of flour while working at the bakery.

Peeta is also charming - and I decided to mention that as a talent rather than a personality, because it seems to be something he's able to turn off and on at will. And it's a tool he uses to his advantage during the games, trying to win viewers over so he can hopefully gain some sponsors. During preparation for the Games, while Katniss has problems adjusting to the idea of putting on a show for people, it's Peeta who is able to perform for others by waving and smiling at those around him.

And during Catching Fire is when we REALLY see him put on a show:

*SPOILER* “But I have to confess, I'm glad you two had at least a few months of happiness together."
I'm not glad," says Peeta. "I wish we had waited until the whole thing was done officially."
This takes even Caesar aback. "Surely even a brief time is better than no time?"
Maybe I'd think that, too, Caesar," says Peeta bitterly, "If it weren't for the baby.” (Catching Fire)


Special Attributes/Best Qualities:
We know that Peeta is willing to risk his life to save others- and that he's brave, putting himself in dangerous positions just to help them. And we know that he has certain talents that helpl him during the Games.

But one of the most overlooked qualities of his that isn't mentioned as much is his sense of humour - it's EXACTLY the kind that I love to see in a character, and his dry wit always seems to pop up even in rather dire situations.

“Yes, and I’m sure the arena will be full of bags of flour for me to chuck at people.”

“Yes, frosting. The final defense of the dying.”



And like many of the other characters in the Hunger Games, he WANTS to find a way to fight back. But he knows it isn't as simple as that.

"“Why not? It's true. My best hope is to not disgrace myself and..." He hesitates.
"And what?" I say.
"I don't know how to say it exactly. Only... I want to die as myself. Does that make any sense?" he asks. I shake my head. How could he die as anyone but himself? "I don't want them to change me in there. Turn me into some kind of monster that I'm not."
I bite my lip feeling inferior. While I've been ruminating on the availability of trees, Peeta has been struggling with how to maintain his identity. His purity of self. "Do you mean you won't kill anyone?" I ask.
"No, when the time comes, I'm sure I'll kill just like everybody else. I can't go down without a fight. Only I keep wishing I could think of a way to... to show the Capitol they don't own me. That I'm more than just a piece in their Games," says Peeta.

And what makes him more than a great person, but a great CRUSH? This guy is so romantic. I swoon at just about everything he says. Even if it's about bread.

"“I don't want you forgetting how different our circumstaces are. If you die, and I live, there's no life for me at all back in District Twelve. You're my whole life." Peeta says. "I would never be happy again. It's different for you. I'm not saying it wouldn't be hard. But there are other people who'd make your life worth living."

"No one really needs me," he says, and there's no selfpity in his voice. It's true his family doesn't need him. They will mourn him, as will a handfull of friends. But they will get on.... I realise only one person will be damaged beyond repair if Peeta dies. Me.

"I do," I say. "I need you.”" (Catching Fire)


“So I only say, "So what should we do with our last few days?"

"I just want to spend every possible minute of the rest of my life with you," Peeta replies.” (Catching Fire)


And lastly, to really show the depth of his inner strength I have to talk about one huge spoiler from Mockingjay *SPOILER*
Not only does Peeta fight back as much as he can against outside forces - but after he's held and brainwashed by the Capitol to hate Katniss and is set on a mission to kill her, it takes an extraordinary amount of strength from within himself to fight back against his own brainwashing in an attempt to rehabilitate him to who he once was.
“There's a chance that the old Peeta, the one who loves you, is still inside. Trying to get back to you. Don't give up on him.” (Mockingjay)

Anything else?

Katniss' appreciation for Peeta isn't instant, it's slow and gradual and built up over time. It's beautiful, and their relationship is one that still brings tears to my eyes.

*SPOILER*
“What I need is the dandelion in the spring. The bright yellow that means rebirth instead of destruction. The promise that life can go on, no matter how bad our losses. That it can be good again. And only Peeta can give me that.” (Mockingjay)

That's who Peeta is, and what he means for her.

PLUS, I think one of Peeta's biggest selling points is that he is the boy with the bread. He's a baker's son, and he loves frosting cakes. So on a less serious note, you know what that means?
BAGUETTES.
CROISSANTS.
CAKES.
COOKIES.
PIE.

All that good stuff. I mean, if you can get a guy who is strong and brave and funny AND CAN BAKE - what else is there?


So today- take time to VOTE FOR THE BOY WITH THE BREAD <3

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Hey guys!  It's Valerie from StuckInBooks here again to give you reasons to vote for Daemon Black, from the Lux series, in the YA Crush Tourney!

One of the things Daemon is known for PEN POKES in math class.  He does it to get Katy's attention.  Thought I'd use his approach!

 I've got some pen pokes for your to point out the reasons to VOTE DAEMON!
 
*PEN POKE* ---------------> Daemon is HOTT! 

"broad, tan well-muscled chest", thick sooty lashes fanning the tips of his high cheeks", "full, kissable lips", and eyes "so green and brilliant they couldn't be real". (Obsidian)

"Beautiful face.
Beautiful body.
Horrible attitude.
It was the holy trinity of hot boys". (Obsidian)

*PEN POKE* ---------------> Daemon loves the verbal battles with Katy.  And he brings out the best in Katy when they spar!

"I was two seconds away from kissing that pissed off look right off her face.  I wondered what she'd do.  Hit me? Kiss me back? (Obsidian - Uh-oh speghetti-o's)

Really, Daemon is protecting not only his family but Katy too when he tries to push her away but it is so fun to watch those two together and you can't help but see the chemistry between them.

*PEN POKE* ---------------> Daemon has the POWER

"Daemon threw up his hands and a great roar started under the car, shaking the road, and the trees thrashed outside. A loud crack sounded, like a blast of thunder, quickly followed by several more in succession. The earth seemed to shake and rumble....Trees were being ripped from out of the ground, their thick and gnarled roots dripping clumps of moist dirt...Oh my God, Daemon was uprooting trees." (Obsidian)

While all Lux are powerful, Daemon is the strongest of them all.  

*PEN POKE* ---------------> Daemon has a sweet side

"'I've always found that the most beautiful people, truly beautiful inside and out, are the ones who are quietly unaware of their effect.' His eyes searched mine intently, and for a moment we stood there toe to toe." Obsidian

There's even more sweetness from Daemon in Onyx!!

*PEN POKE* ---------------> Daemon has the chemistry with Katy

"Daemon kissed me.  There wasn't a moment of hesitation.  His mouth was on mine, and I stopped breathing.  He shuddered and there was a sound from the back of his throat, half growl, half moan.  Little shivers of pleasure and panic shot through me as he deepened the kiss, parting my lips." Obsidian

Oh yeah, these two have it bad!!
 
*PEN POKE* ---------------> Daemon is determined to protect those he loves

"There was no doubt in my mind that Daemon loved and cherished his sister.  He'd gladly give his life for her.  The way he was always looking out for her was more than admirable.  There wasn't a good enough word for it." Obsidian

Of course, Daemon's sister isn't the only one he feels this way about.  Thinking that includes our girl Katy! 

Check out this very sexy scene from Obsidian! The yummy cookie scene!


 
 
VOTE for Daemon Black! He is the complete package.



*VOTING IS NOW CLOSED*