So, imagine if post sotr a watching/reading (I can't decide how this would work better, maybe a combination of the 2 where we still get the thoughts of the protagonists but can visually see what is happening because I think that would be more affective for most people to actually believe what they are being told? Apologies for the changes in terms throughout) the series occurs. Maybe Beetee invented a machine, maybe it was a higher power...
At this point, less than a year after winning the 50th hunger games, Haymitch has successfully pushed everyone away, everyone who is still alive that is and is becoming the drunkard that we all know and love but the rest of 12 hates.
I image this to start with a note or someone (maybe Katniss, Peeta and Haymitch) announcing that they are about to watch/read the experiences of district 12's 4 victors and how the hunger games are stopped. This is obviously met with lots of confusion as there has only been 1 victor from 12 as far as most people know (some of the older people exchange looks at this, all remembering Lucy but having an unspoken agreement not to talk about her after Snow came to power) and the hunger games is very much still going strong. Not to mention that many believe this to be a capital trap to weed out rebels, they're just not sure how yet.
12 starts by watching/reading Lucy's experience in the games and with Snow. Tan Amber and Clerk Carmine Clade are answering questions as best they can and everyone is gaining respect and appreciation for Lucy and what she went through... maybe a bit a judging too in terms of romantic partners. The general consensus is that whilst there is some sympathy for what he went through as a kid, it is also established that Snow is a psychopath with no regard for others (read his thoughts in the book if you disagree) who is scarily good at hiding that. It is during this that more people begin to believe that maybe this isn't a trap or scheme conceived by the Capital.
If this is a Beetee machine situation then maybe only certain memories are shown/read about. Whatever they could find in Snows personal records (Snow is so the sort to remove mention of her everywhere but keep a personal record because he was obsessed with her till, he died) along with Clerk's (and anyone else who survived) recollections.
Next comes the story that everyone, except for Haymitch, is waiting for.
Before it even starts people are muttering at Haymitch, calling him a sellout, a failure, a betrayer etc. Haymitch just looks straight forward, ignoring everyone, refusing to let them see how much the words are affecting him, knowing even here, wherever here is, he can't afford to show emotions, to show that he cares. Whilst he is now a bit more convinced that this isn't a Capital trap, he still isn't entirely sure, that'll depend on exactly what is shown in his games... not that he wants anyone to witness what he sees as his many failures.
After Burdock (because you can't convince me that he isn't a ride or die friend, even if he isn't on speaking terms with said friend) along with Hattie (she isn't blind to how the games have affected Haymitch and helps the only way that she knows how) manages to calm everyone down, they begin to watch/read.
Haymitch almost breaks down sobbing seeing/hearing about his family and Lenore again. Not to mention Maysilee, Wyatt and Louella, his sweetheart. No one moves to comfort him. He doesn't ask for any either. In his mind he doesn't deserve any.
No matter how many hateful comments are thrown around, about how they all deserved better than Haymitch, no one dares to make comments towards Haymitch himself, seeing the look on this face as his looks at/hears about them and those who are cruel enough to do so are quickly silenced by those around them (or Katniss and Peeta in the case of time travel).
The story of Louella's 1 week crush on Haymitch and his declaration that she is his sweetheart received watery smiles from the crowd, espicially her family.
Maysilee receives nods of appreciation for her comments about the cutlery. Haymitch mutters under his breath that is should have been her, causing those close enough to here to look his way confused.
Wyatts statistics gain sad chuckles from those who knew him.
Haymitch does break when Louella dies, even as he refuses to watch or listen to the chariots pull out. Despite this he desperately soaks up the last images of Louella before the chariot pulls out. He looks at Louella's family before anything else can happen. Tells them how sorry he is. How he will never forgive himself for what happened causing many looks of confusion as to why he is apologising only to Louella's family and why now.
He manages not to let the tears fall until Louella's Mum demands he looks at her, her voice shaking but firm, softening as she looked at Haymitch curled in on himself and says that whilst she doesn't know what happens, she knows that Haymitch did what he could to protect Louella. That they knew something had happened when he didn't call her sweetheart in the arena but in the face of everything it seemed unimportant.
Tears silently make their way down all of those present as the scene unfolds. As they hear Haymitch's thought and feelings. As they realise that they lost two of their children before the games even began. They begin to wonder how often something like this happens.
Louella's family are rightfully distraught but take the time to reassure Haymitch that it wasn't his fault, thanking him for protecting their little girl and thanking him for protecting Lou-Lou because her parents can't do it themselves.
Eventually Haymitch falls asleep, emotionally exhausted from finally admitting what happened, relieved that someone else can finally share the burden with him but the guilt stays. He doesn't notice the silence that 12 has fallen into, the resolve and realisations that they have finally had. As 12 looks at Haymitch curled in on himself, tense and seemingly ready to run even in sleep, they no longer see an arrogant victor who now sees himself as too good to be around them. Instead, they see him for what he truly is, a broken boy who has lost everything.
And the games haven't even technically begun yet.
Plutarch shocks them all. Why would anyone from the Capital want to help them end the games? The plan and Haymitch's resolve to die even more so. His friends wake him up at this point. Their anger over his apparent lack of concern for his life palatable.
Every action, every act of rebellion is unbelievable. Victors, tributes, Plutarch and their very own Haymitch Abernathy, Maysilee Donnor, and Wyatt Callow, all actively working towards ending the games.
Many of them begin to realise that this is not the first time something like this has been attempted. That people are always actively working on the rebellion. It gives them hope.
They witness the formation of the Newcomers. How involved all of the district 12 tributes truly where.
They see Maysilee making everyone's tokens, Wyatt using his math skills and making friends with district 3. All of them bonding. Becoming friends even when they know that only one of them is going home.
The continue to watch/read. Some of them scream when Lou-Lou is introduced, even though they already knew that she competed in the games, but all the tributes and victors involved get more respect for their actions towards her, whilst hearts simultaneously break and harden as the implications. The scene with the milk, all of them feeling both pride and fear at Haymitch's actions.
They see how being a victor does not guarantee one's safety and that rebellion has a price such as Beetee mentoring his own son as punishment for his own act of rebellion. His devastating acceptance about his own son's death and his role in it. Ampert's own acceptance and resolve about his role in the plan but especially his unending confidence in both the plan and his father. His optimism and hope that he refused to allow the capital to take away.
As they continue, reality of the games continues to shock them all. The tributes and most of the Victors are so young and yet determined in ways that no one had ever dared to dream to be possible.
Eventually the full extent of the plan is revealed. The reason why Haymitch stayed away from the other Newcomers in the games despite helping to form the alliance.
They watch/read as the games begin.
Wyatt dying for Lou-Lou when he knew her chances causing a new wave of tears.
Lou-Lou dying anyway. Haymitch helping to shorten her pain.
12 witnesses the parts of the games that the Capital didn't want them to see. The bomb, Ampert and Lou-Lou's deaths, the scientists in the games, the battle Haymitch and Maysilee had with the mutt.
A brother and sister united and ripped apart.
Maysilee dying voiceless.
They see the true posters of the tributes.
None of them, except for Haymitch, can believe what they are seeing, the true hunger games and not the propaganda that they were forced to watch.
Another failed rebellion.
Haymitch keeps reminding them. Or at least he tries to, for every time he starts someone knew cuts him off. Tells him how proud they are of him. He can't speak through the tears for a while after that.
Throughout this all Haymitch has been surrounded by his friends. Burdock has an arm thrown around him, holding tight, refusing to let go and helping to ground him. Astrid has an arm leaning across Burdock, holding Haymitch's hand tightly and is in a holding Merrilee in her other arm. Blaire is on Haymitch's other side, holding his other hand, pressed against him tightly. All of them working to stop him from shutting down again. Refusing to let him face any of this alone again.
When the games end, they think that it over, some of them even start talking about how they can modify the rebellion plans for next time.
The talking abruptly stops when they hear Haymitch's despair over surviving, his talk with Snow and his time in the cage. How Haymitch was treated like an animal, expected to perform for food.
Burdock and Blaire are quick to reassure Haymitch that they looked after his family, ensured the well was always full and that Snow must have had someone empty it.
Lenore's death has someone points out the link to his own survival at the start of games, gaining glares and a few hits from those around them.
A shocked silence comes over the 12 when it ends. How is one meant to react to that? How can someone live through that?
Now, they understand. The trauma. The extent of what all the tributes truly go through, regardless of if they are the chosen Mockingjay or not.
That's when an unfamiliar face fills the screen (if watching memories) or someone begins to read the next book. When they realise that they won't have another victor until the 74th hunger games.
Is this another failed attempt to end the hunger games? Many of 12 points out that they supposedly have 4 victors so there has to be at least 75 hunger games, right? What are the chances of having a victor from district 12, two games in a row? Has any district ever had back-to-back victors?
None of them realise yet that they are watching the Mockingjay. That they have been watching the fall of the hunger games since Lucy Grey. After all they are all connected. They have all played a role and continue to impact the rebellion.
Lucy Grey Baird, Haymitch Abernathy, Peeta Malark and Katniss Everdeen.
The victors of district 12.
The song, the spark, and the fire.
They and every tribute, every victor, every act of rebellion was only ever going to end one way.
The Mockingjay and her boy with the bread.
There is no need to worry though. District 12 will learn. They will win. After all, if their tributes, their children, can be strong, loyal, and stay true to themselves in the face of the capital's games, so can they.
They can make their own posters.
There was always going to a second rebellion. The only question that remains is when.
