rule the world

MIRAY ASLAN was another reminder of his home, but she didn't bring about the same feelings as his old bed. There were mixed emotions involved--- anger, love, grief at what might've been and what they are now. He looked at her and saw his younger self, the one who hadn't set foot in the Capitol and embarked on his mother's quest.

He listened to her speak, his guard relaxing slightly at the knowledge that Plutarch wasn't around. He didn't trust any of the Capitolites, even the ones who claimed to align with his mother's mission, so it was nice to be free of them for one second. "I wasn't looking for him. I'm sure he has better things to do than talk to a programmer." He nodded at her words, shifting over so that he was alongside her as they walked. "I assume work has been productive?" Whether he was talking about the assistant work or the rebel work was up to interpretation.

Somehow during her time in the captiol she had been focusing slightly too hard on her cover job and less on being an active member of the rebellion. Miray could give a thousand excuses for why exactly that was the case but she knew the truth and unfortunately Honore knew her well enough to be able to see straight through her. In actuality she had grown to enjoy certain perks of life in the Captiol. She enjoyed life being less regimented, having fresh air on a daily bases, getting to see sunlight, freedom, good food, luxuries... the list was endless. She felt like a horrendous person for enjoying all of it but after a life underground in 13 she couldn't help herself.

"And how about you? Have you been keeping busy?"

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He shifted his weight from one foot to the other, arms still crossed tight over his chest, jaw ticking as he thought about it all. “I didn’t have anyone I gave a damn about the first time around. It made things simple. Cold, yeah, but simple. Now? I’ve got people I actually like, people I’d rather not see carved up on a highlight reel, and that makes this whole thing ten times harder than it already was.”

He paused, not really waiting for Finnick to respond, just letting the silence settle for a moment before continuing.

“I don’t want to be the person I had to be back then. That version of me got out alive, but he didn’t make it out clean. And I don’t know if I’ve got it in me to go full monster again, not with people watching who’d actually notice the difference.”

Then, finally, he looked Finnick straight on. “But I’m not asking for sympathy. If I start hesitating, if I look like I’m about to crack, I need someone to snap me out of it. Doesn’t have to be pretty. Just don’t let me get soft.”

He gave the smallest shrug, like he wasn’t quite sure if he believed himself, but was willing to try anyway. He didn't want Cash to have to do it. He didn't want her to be the one with his blood on her hands, because even Snow knew he wouldn't choose his own life over hers. “And if this really is the last time for one of us… might as well make it count. Give them something they can’t turn into a fucking Capitol bedtime story.”

“It sucks yeah.” Finnick half laughs. He didn’t want to like anybody inside that arena, he didn’t want to have too much loyalty that he would eventually have to betray but he knew that was how things would be this time around. Alliances would be broken, friends forced to witness each other’s demise or even be the direct cause. It was sick and twisted: as was everything about the games.

“I’ll do what I can.” He promised, which very well might be nothing. The two could go their separate ways and end up never seeing each other in the arena unless it’s as a face in the sky.

He was slightly surprised that Finnick was questioning him, though he just cleared his throat and stared at the plant in his hands. "Um.. I think it's poison hemlock." He started before looking from the plant to Finnick. "Definitely poisonous but I'm not sure how long it would take.. Maybe an hour or so?" Was the timeframe really an important thing to know? If you eat it, you have a death sentence, that's all Sparky needed to know.

"Hmm juicy." He muttered as he ate the berry, he popped another few in his mouth and then offered some out to sparky. "Want some they're good? I know they're technically for training purposes but the captiol can always get some more in. This might be the last we have to taste them."

The training center made her anxiety swell, but being in Finnick's arms helped calm her nerves and make her momentarily forget about her haunted memories. She listened to him speak and smiled, grateful that she still had time with him before he disappeared to the games. Annie had been struggling with accepting the reality that her tether could be gone--- afraid that she might slip into her trauma and never recover without his guiding hand.

But the fears were dampened at the moment, and she let herself focus on his question. A small smile tugged on her lips at the title before she commented, "Mentor... I don't think I've been called that before." She wasn't confident in her skills, especially knowing she survived out of pure luck, but she'd tuck the insecurities behind her teeth for the time being. "Hm..." She hummed, trying to think of the advice she received when she was a tribute. "Don't be too cocky. You shouldn't make enemies before the games begin." Although Annie knew that everyone had preconceived notions about everyone already. "And.... don't get hurt. I can't handle that."

"When have you ever known me to be cocky?" He questioned knowing that the smirk on his face wasn't helping his case in the slightest. If there was one thing Finnick had always been confident in it was himself and his abilities. He could fight, he could survive and he knew it, he hadn't become the youngest ever victor by coincidence. As for enemies he knew he was more than likely going to have the opposite problem, too many people back in the arena that he considered a friend. There were people he'd find it incredibly difficult to kill or watch die even if he knew it had to be done. Because he would be going home to Annie, no matter what the cost. If he had things his way multiple of them would be making it out of the arena but he wouldn't dare say that out loud; not here, not now. "I'll be careful. You know I can handle myself, I have no intention of doing anything stupid before I even get in here."