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It was late and quiet on the District Four floor as Ana and Finnick camped out in front of the screen in the living area despite no longer having a Tribute still in the Game. “Look” Finnick indulging in one of his secretive vices, nearly dropped the burning cigarette on his bare chest as he sat up all of a sudden. “There’s some kind of fog.” He watched as the mist spread across the Arena. “Surely it can’t be acid. There’s no where to escape it.”

‘Live fast, die young, bad girls do it well’

Andromache would have to ponder it further later because she noticed a familiar face walk into the Tower lobby bar. “Trixie, that’s unfortunate about your Tribute. She had looked promising.” Andromache reached into her satchel and produced Tupperware. “Lemon poppyseed scone?” She offered before continuing “That girl from Twelve is some feral thing, isn’t she?”

Already Known Skills

Knot Tying -  Exemplary - Used a lot during Raven’s illegal hunting and trapping trips

Edibility -  Exemplary - Learned from Katniss and illegal books from the Hob

Medicinal Plant ID -  Exemplary - Learned from Katniss and experience

First Aid -  Exemplary -  Learned from Katniss and growing up in the woods

Cooking - Competent - Learned from mother and then experience in the woods

Trapping - Exemplary - Learned from experience and illegal books before being trained more by Katniss

Fire Making -  Exemplary - Learned growing up in the woods

Tracking -  Exemplary - Learned from experience and illegal books

Camouflage -  Exemplary - Learned from experience

Hand to Hand - Competent - Learned from Katniss

Self Defense - Competent - Learned from Katniss

Archery - Exemplary - Self learned before being trained more by Katniss

Learned During Training

Standing in the wings of the stage, Raven watched the guy from District Eleven’s interview in silence. She appreciated that KyAnne didn’t seem to mind the silence that allowed Raven’s ever analyzing brain to process everything going through it at the moment. Some tv production person signaled to Raven that the current interview was wrapping up. She drew in a slow deep breath, lifting her chin and then waited for the signal to go on stage. Raven knew who she was but she also knew who she needed to be in the Interview in order to get Sponsors. 

Signaled to go on stage, Raven smiled and waved as she crossed the stage towards Caesar fucking Flickerman. She offered her hand to be shaken but instead Caesar lifted to kiss the back of it. The crowd roared. 

Taking her seat, Raven smoothed out her dress. “Raven Baldoni, now that’s a traditional District Twelve name if I’ve ever heard one.” Caesar started. Raven smiled and nodded “Yes, Raven is a family name.” She shared. 

“Speaking of family, Raven, if you could say one thing to someone back home, what would it be?” Raven turned towards the crowd, and cameras, “Mom, don’t worry. I’ll be back home before you know it.” The crowd awed. 

“Do you think you have what it takes to win? It sounds like you do!” Caesar laughed with the crowd. Raven smiled politely “You’re right Caesar, I do think I have what it takes to win. I may not be your classic contender but I think I am a well rounded Tribute and I think I have a good chance of being crowned Panem’s next Victor.” She explained.

Caesar grinned and clapped “I love the confidence and it seems you have the training scores to back up your claim! Can you tell us how you received your training score?” Raven smiled a smile almost edging to a smirk. “Sorry Caesar, I want to keep my best kept secrets a secret until I’m in the Arena.”

“Hopefully you can answer this one, if you could have one thing provided for you in the Arena what would it be?” Caesar raised his brows questioningly “Oh! That is a really good one. I think I would have to go with a way to access portable water. Whether that be purifying tablets or a spile or something else.” Raven decided.

“Now on the flipside, what do you hope to not find in the Arena?” Caesar then asked. “Poison fog for sure. Though now that I said that I bet Valeria will decide the Arena needs some poison fog.” She tried to joke.

Caesar laughed at the joke before quickly moving the interview along, “Are you ready to go in the Arena, Raven?” Raven nodded slowly “I think that is a lot more complex of a question than a lot of people realize. I don’t believe anyone can truly be ready to go in Arena but I feel confident going in. The Games are going to happen whether you’re ready or not.”

“Now, for any of our viewers who did not see Raven’s Reaping, she volunteered. Why did you volunteer, Raven?” Raven couldn’t help her frown. “It was the right thing to do.” She finally decided on.

“You know, seeing you volunteer for that little girl reminded me a lot of someone else. You know who that is?” Raven shook her head no but she didn’t like where this was going. “Katniss Everdeen. You know her right?” Raven nodded “Of course, everyone knows of Katniss.” Raven forced a smile. “Yes, but you know Katniss quite well. She is your Mentor back in Twelve.” Raven’s brows furrowed and she shook her head “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Raven’s pulse was quickening. “That’s alright dear. Thanks for talking with us tonight!”

Wisteria looked up at Andromache incredulously when she was told to turn around. “Nuh-uh. I didn’t do anything.” And she truly hadn’t. But how was she supposed to tell the peacekeeper that it had actually been a raccoon? “Where’s Hyacinth?”

Andromache sighed as she stepped forward towards the Victor so they were almost touching. “Don’t make this harder than it needs to be.” She reached out for Wisteria’s wrist to force her to turn as her other hand reached for the pair of zip cuffs she always carried. “Just a free word of advice? Don’t look to Ms. Ackerman for inspiration. She’ll lead you down the wrong path kid.” Andromache moved to try and cuff Wisteria.

Emilia smiled gently, enjoying in the friendly quietness. “Well last year was a seaside cliff.” She pondered for a moment. “Do you think it might be something more idealized? Like on theme, less naturalistic? Valeria has a lot to prove this year as the new Head Gamemaker. And under a new president.”

“Perhaps.” She agreed, pondering the thought of something more on theme and less natural. “I don’t know what it’ll be but it’s going to be a first, I know that much, a new Head Gamemaker, a new President, and a whole new Hunger Games.” She shook her head. “Not to mention the whole only twelve Tributes thing.”

-

She looked over to him, internally cursing herself and him both for a solid two seconds before he pantomimed zipping his lips. Good. A smirk turned up her lips as she raised a brow and shook her head. “I get caught I’m telling them it was your idea to drag me out here to this bar.” She turned her attention back to the mechanic bull as the Capitol citizen climbed over a fake wooden fence after not even two seconds. “That thing does not move like a bull.” She paused only a minute before her eyes returned to Walker, “ever tried your hand at it?”

Walker’s eyes widened for a split second. Penelope was something else. “Please don’t I’m already on thin ice.” He admitted, maybe a little too honestly given how many beers he had already drank that night. He followed her eyes to see that, unsurprisingly, the Capitolite had already fallen off the bull. “No, it doesn’t but you get used to it with practice. Or I mean I assume so.” He knew where this was going and he wasn’t about to get on that bull in front of Penny. 

Sapphire looked up when she heard the voice, smiling politely, but it didn’t reach her eyes. She threw a look past him, checking for his wife before settling back into the couch and turning her attention back towards the screen. “Your’s.” She replied simply, brushing her hair off her shoulder. “That Career alliance really fell apart quick, huh?”

He didn’t fail to notice how Sapphire’s smile was just a polite one or the way she looked past him momentarily but Onyx didn’t comment on it. If he was going to help Sapphire he need her to talk to him. Onyx scoffed and rolled his eyes at her comment about the Career alliance. “You could say that. I didn’t even want the alliance but it was insisted on.” He commented as he took a seat and looked up at the screen. He had only rewatched his Games once in the the time since his win. “You thinking of making an alliances?” He mused, trying to sound nonchalant.

-

“I doubt it.” She agreed with the teenager. “But there’s also a brand new head gamemaker so who knows what she will do.” She was quiet a moment, sitting baclk out of reach of the water. “Whatever she has decided on, I’m sure it’ll be something very out there. Valeria needs to make a name for herself.”

Raven could feel her breath and heartrate slowly becoming regular again. “If she wanted something really out there then she should have put Sponsors in the Arena.” She muttered under her breath. Raven pushed herself up out of the pool and grabbed a towel that was offered to her by an Avox. “Do you think there only being twelve Tributes is an advantage or disadvantage?” She asked as she toweled herself off.