BOYKING

“What fans?” Johanna sneers, taking the glass and downing it unceremoniously, letting out a sigh as she does so. Finnick was one of the few people in the Capitol she could actually tolerate, let alone joke around with. Their camaraderie had been unexpected - at least from Johanna’s perspective - even though she’d always imagined she’d quite like District Four ( the glimpse she managed to get of it on her victory tour wasn’t enough to satisfy her, the idea of an ocean still being foreign and intangible ), the tributes from the district hadn’t been particularly friendly during her games ( then again, neither had Johanna - she’d killed one of them, after all ), and her first impression of Finnick himself had been… arrogant.

Perhaps he was still arrogant, but Johanna had found a friendship (or as close to one as she was willing to concede ) with Finnick, and she’d held onto it like a lifeline since the end of her games ( not that she would ever admit this - her will to simply go it alone too strong to be swayed ). “And is he?” She asks, unable to resist - Finnick may be a friend, but District Four is usually strong, and any information helps. “An idiotic asshole? He struck me as one, but you know how quick I am to judge.”

“People project their inner desires on us. We are just a marketing product on a shiny wrap ready to be sold and bright up the lives of the people around the capitol, Johana”  He commented casually as he held his drink. “Believe it or not, some adore you because of the way media portrays you.” He stated.

“And I guess they wish they could tell people to fuck off more often...” He quickly added  when he realized he may have sound deeper than he usually did.  He took advantadge to change the situation topic when she asked him about his tribute.

she read the paper, and fought back a snicker. it was short, but it wasn’t even a haiku. she didn’t know what to say to it, so she just nodded, smile suddenly real but hopefully not too mean. “It’s beautiful.” she managed, after a moment. “Is it okay if i publish it?” she’d already snuck a picture.

goodness, maybe this would be one of those articles she could laugh at with the rebels later.

Every step Finnick took had a purpose.  The idea behind the letter was more than the eye met,  to raise the attention of people around this games so they thought he was in love with them, but must important. It had a hidden message for the rebels. He was willing to die for the cause after the meetings they had with them. Only those ones with the highest ranks would ever be able to decipher them. 

“I mean, listen. if… well, EVERYONE is any indication, I think you’re everybody’s type. I bet you make her really quite happy, mr odair. or you will, whenever you tell her you love her.” she didn’t know what else to say, really, but she nodded when he asked if she wanted to see his poetry. really, she was curious. wouldn’t it be something if pretty boy odair wrote really good poetry? and wouldn’t it be twice as funny if it was shit?

which was it?

“Contrarily to what most of the people think about me, I dream about finding someone special,  you know?”  H esaid smiling. “I’m eternally grateful for the displays of affection the people from the Capitol and other districts have given me. Maybe one fine day, I’ll be worthy enough so that person loves me and to love that person” He said as he gave her a piece of paper with his handwriting.

You have my love for all eternity, 

and if I die,

With all the effort he could muster, Cab smiled and took a sip from his glass. He knew how much it had taken to remain positive as a mentor. At least Finnick was trying. “Do you mean aside from…” Cab let the sentence run off as he gestured around to nowhere in particular. “It’s just maddening how we do this every year. Why do we always come back?”

Because it’s your punishment. It’s a way to keep you controlled...

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“Pfttt, you are going to disappoint your fans if you say that aloud, you know?” He said playfully as he served a glass for her and another one for him. He sat in front of her as he smiled from ear to ear. He was tired of dealing with moody tributes and he preferred talking to Johanna. She didn’t give a rat ass about protocoles or capitol crap. That’s why she was one of her favorite person around.

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“If you said so” He said with a smug smile as he raised his glass. There was something that told him the girl would most likely try to pull a stunt. After what happened last year, Finnick knew that was not the wisest thing to do for any tribute. The gamemakers would be happy to pull the trigger to pulverize her. Maybe it was the best she could do. A quick death may be the best for non-career tributes.

“His seat…” He scoffed. “I don’t think that man even came out of his room on the train. He’s probably still riding around all the Districts as happy as can be.” Since he was born that’s all he had known Haymitch to be, the District’s drunk who had been the fifty hunger games victor. It was hard to believe sometimes because he’d seen the main passed out cold on the streets and in none to pleasant of circumatances. 

Gale knew it couldn’t be specific. Every Hunger Games was a different arena and it wasn’t about advice, it was character while you were in there and survival to the end. Make yourself memorable. “I’ll keep that in mind.” Again, Katniss came in mind and her skills with a bow and arrow. She had far outskilled him but he had been the one to teach her about snares and traps. He had been the patient hunter. 

“He carries too much emotional baggage on his own” He commented trying to leave things as vague as possible because no one wanted to directly adress what happened to Haymitch. It was too dangerous to do so. No one wanted to enrage Coronelious Snow. 

It had been a full year since the 74th Hunger Games had ended with no victor and watching Katniss and Peeta take their own lives. The Capitol was never going to let them both win. It hurt, but as Finnick reminded him, he had more to worry about then what happened last year. The 75th Hunger Games would start soon and the people he talked to casually in passing would be out to kill him. Survival was the key. “Other then the obvious, in worldy advice you care to pass on?” He asked. Tequilla, as he just found out, seemed to taste better if you downed more of it, which of course he did. “Yeah, we definitely don’t have that in twelve.“ He offered a small chuckle, a memory of a place he’d probably never see again. Though we did have a place called The Hob, couple of the people in the market made moonshine.”

“I assume Haymitch is way too drunk to even get up from his seat, isn’t it?”  He commented amused. There was a part of him that pitied the man because Haymitch wasn’t quite useful. The man was smart but too much alcohol and bitterness had taken the best of him. 

her eyes widened, near cartoonishly, when finnick gave her just the sort of information calliope would go bonkers for. “okay, but… wait. if she’s in the capitol… is she a victor? or does she even work at the tower?” she knew she’d be crucified if she didn’t get some information on this scoop. “come on, throw me a little bone here?”

“I’m sorry, I can’t. She is quite shy, you know? I’m not sure if she even feels something about me. I wish I was the average guy that could make her happy, but I’m not sure if I am what she needs...” He commented with a soft smile on his face. He was telling part of the truth. He knew he could never tell the name to anyone because as soon as a name pop out of his mouth, she would be a target. He preferred seeing her from the distance but safe.  

“I don’t know about that, Katniss was pretty interesting all on her own. She was ‘the girl on fire’ after all.” He could imagine how silly that she thought that nickname was. She would always be Catnip, the girl in the woods; but she had inspired everyone on the holoscreen and then in the end the capitol had put down the idea. At the offer to serve himself, he lifted the bottle that Finnik had brought with him and grabbed up a glass from where they were sitting at the table. He poured the liquid halfway and then went to talk a drink reacting with a sour face as he swallowed. “What the hell is that stuff?” He asked with a chuckle, not sure if he liked it or not. he knew for sure they didn’t have it in twelve. 

She was, but she made a fatal mistake...

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“That’s the spirit!” He said pulling his best smug tone he usually pull in front of people he didn’t know quite well. It was better they took him by an insensitive idiot than someone who had feelings and with a brain, a dangerous combination to display in the Capitol.

“Kids are more innocent. They hesitate.  They only fight for themselves.  There are more things in risk here” He commented correcting her. It was true. Grown ups had something to fight for. 

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“So, if she was your friend, you may share some skills in common. That’s going to make things quite interesting...” He spoke as he tilt his head to the right as a playful pup. He was curious to know if the guy had the same chances the girl did. He only hope he didn’t think he could try to outsmart the capitol in their own game.

Jonas backed away from the door to let Finnick inside, rolling his eyes at his tone. He had sensed that the mentor had been taken a more serious attitude, but what did he have to worry about? Jonas was a Career, after all. “Jonas. Jonas Bonny,” he said, emphasizing his last name. His father would have wanted him to. “I don’t need a plan. I just need to stick the pointy end of a spear into someone’s chest until a cannon goes off. What else is there to know?”

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“okay, well… what’s the most exciting part of being back in the capitol? are you excited for the quell?” she bounced in her seat, a little, leaning forward as she prepared her pen with a fucking obnoxious pink feather on the end to write down his words.”