I have to go see Annie. – I see. And where might Annie be? – In Napa. With her father Nick Parker. – You're not Annie. – That would be correct. – You're Hallie? – I am.
“Without the threat of death, it wouldn’t have been much of a lesson,” said Dr. Gaul. “What happened in the arena? That’s humanity undressed. The tributes. And you, too. How quickly civilization disappears. All your fine manners, education, family background, everything you pride yourself on, stripped away in the blink of an eye, revealing everything you actually are. A boy with a club who beats another boy to death. That’s mankind in its natural state.”
[...] “You can blame it on the circumstances, the environment, but you made the choices you made, no one else. It’s a lot to take in all at once, but it’s essential that you make an effort to answer that question. Who are human beings? Because who we are determines the type of governing we need."
— The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (2020)
Then I remember Peeta’s words on the roof. “Only I keep wishing I could think of a way to... to show the Capital they don’t own me. That I’m more than just a piece in their Games.” And for the first time, I understand what he means.
I want to do something, right here, right now, to shame them, to make them accountable, to show the Capitol that whatever they do or force us to do there is a part of every tribute they can’t own. That Rue was more than a piece in their Games. And so am I.
I love that Will and El are platonic, familial soulmates. Like even though they're not remotely related they were destined to be twins and two halves of a whole
max in her wheelchair zooming around the school and telling el that she can definitely jump the stairs while lucas screams at her from down the hall, sprinting and begging her not to try it