#g75

    When Finnick woke that morning the sun was streaming in through the open curtains. He hadn’t even noticed when he fell asleep that they’d been left open. However, with the light blinding his eyes forcing him to consciousness he figured he may as well just get up for the day. In the shower, his promise to visit Annie rose to the front of his mind. Having been somewhat worn out after his activities from the previous day he hadn’t made it down to her room. Seeing as the morning wouldn’t be a busy time for sponsors or meetings it was the perfect time to go down and see her. So, Finnick towel dried his hair and dressed quickly to head down to her room.

     On the way there Finnick made a quick stop. The first floor of tribute tower was where the kitchens were. He happened to know that if he charmed the ladies there just enough they’d be more than willing to do him a little favor; which they did. About twenty minutes later Finnick was turning to knob to Annie’s room with a cup of coffee for himself, hot chocolate for Annie, and two freshly made donuts.

     “An? You up?” Finnick asked, propping the door with his elbow as he juggled the drinks and food. "It’s Finnick.”

    The Arena had begun which meant a number of things for Finnick. One of his tributes had been eliminated from the Game already. A regrettable occurrence, but he always knew going in that at least one of his tributes wouldn’t be making it home to District Four. Guthrey Fry was another in the long line of tributes he’d failed to save. Though, they all weighed on Finnick’s mind he still had work to do. Minnow was still alive and she was going to need him to get to work which was exactly what Finnick did. 

    Even with sponsors for Minnow at the forefront of his mind, Finnick had another thing on his to do list. Annie’s new friend. In his interest to see Annie recover, somewhat, from her Games some day Finnick liked to know who they were. Especially if it was someone she’d met while in the Capitol. Annie was fragile after all. She didn’t need people around her who may be a detriment to any progress she was making. 

    A mid-afternoon rendezvous with a fairly regular client of his turned out to be quite fortuitous on both fronts. The individual in question was a rather large fan of District Four and liked to keep tabs. So of course they were more than willing to offer Finnick whatever he needed for Minnow in exchange for the pleasure of his company. They’d also opened up some recent gossip to him about certain individuals in the Capitol. By the time the sun was setting Finnick had an idea of who he ought to be seeking out next -between what he’d been able to learn from Annie and the bits he’d learned from his friend- and he knew where to find her.

     So, when Miss June Sariss excited her office Finnick was leaning against the door frame waiting for her. Signature grin at the ready, arms cross loosely over his chest, and hair perfectly tousled. They hadn’t been formally introduced, but he’d readily rectify that fact. 

   Well that was that, he thought. Things were wrapping up now for the season. There would be the usual festivities and then they’d all be gone. Finnick was glad of it, as he was every year. Of course he was sad to have seen both of his tributes sacrificed in the arena as always -this year more than most considering- however, a small part of him was grateful. The whole fanfare of having a victor was equally as solemn to him as facing the grieving families. Though, that way he at least had the off season to recoup and that was the selfish bit. 

    As it was since he had no Victor, Finnick had one more meeting before the Capitol would release him from their grasp for the time being. Some victors were already leaving, but not him. He was too pretty -even with their new victor to fawn over he still couldn’t escape.

    In an attempt to put the dark thoughts from his mind Finnick left his room headed out. He just needed a walk to clear his head. Everyone on their floor was in some stage of their packing. His own wasn’t even completely finished and he planned to help Annie still, but it could all wait. Worst case, he could finish his own early in the morning or late that night. So his feet carried him through the Capitol streets which were blessedly busy leaving it easy for him to pass unnoticed in the crowd. Somehow, he found himself standing at the train platform that would take him home the following afternoon. 

   Staring at the sleek train for a long moment, Finnick caught movement from the corner of his eye. Down the platform there was a bit of a struggle taking place between two familiar figures. A larger long haired man, Haymitch Abernathy, and a petite blonde, Effie Trinket, seemed to be disagreeing about something. Unable to help his curiosity, Finnick drifted their direction. As the voices grew louder he realized Haymitch was unsurprisingly rather inebriated. Leaning against a light pole, Finnick hung back to observe the dispute. After a little while Haymitch seemed to surrender with a great huff as he turned and stalked through the waiting doors of the train car.

    As it had been since the start of the Arena the television was on. Finnick hadn’t been paying it much mind until he’d heard a familiar voice. Minnow. Immediately his attention for the knots he’d been tying in his rope was lost to focus solely on the events playing out on screen. It seemed the boy from Seven had wandered onto the beach where Minnow was. After the break down of the career pack she’d been left a little bit worse for wear and he’d been keeping an eye to see if she needed anything. Though, she’d yet to voice anything. Now, here was the boy from Seven and they were just talking?

    Finnick frowned slightly as he observed. Was she going to make a move against him? She’d need to be quick or clever. The boy from Seven, Reed(?), was bigger than her, but that wasn’t enough to count her out in an altercation. A sound distracted him briefly from the screen though just as Minnow was warning the boy about the dangers of drinking salt water. Someone was coming into the living room, Finnick set his rope down on the coffee table as he looked around to see who had entered.

     The first day was finally over it seemed. Inside the arena, and out, the sun had set some hours ago. There was some sort of party tonight that much Finnick knew. He could see the lights outside the expansive windows. A vague thought flitted by that he may be missed at the party, but surely Harper would be there on their behalf -a guess on his part as she simply wasn’t on the floor. 

    Sighing, Finnick rubbed his right eye with the heel of his hand. He was kicked back comfortably on the couch in the District Four living room with his feet up and the screen still on. There didn’t seem to be too much going on in the arena. Still he couldn’t sleep anyway so he might as well watch. A clock on the wall read that it wasn’t long past midnight.

    Swirling around a half empty glass of wine, Finnick was beginning to ponder whether he ought to at least lie down and attempt to sleep. He’d need to be spry and bushy tailed with his mask in place tomorrow. Just as his eyes began to drift back to the television screen, Finnick heard the unmistakable sound of the elevator doors opening around the corner.