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#finnick and katniss are brother and sister actually
avoxrising · 6 months
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The Feral One - Prologue
I had an idea for a mini Finnick x reader Tumblr series so I wrote a short prologue to gage y’all’s interest. Lmk if y’all want to see more!
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“I want you guys to forget everything you think you know about the games,” Haymitch states as the District 12 team sits down to eat.
“Last year was child’s play,” Haymitch continues. “This year, you’re dealing with all experienced killers.”
“All right. What does that mean for us?” Peeta asks.
“That means you’re gonna have to have some allies,” he replies.
Peeta starts, “ok I think that if we…”
“Whoop,” Haymitch interrupts. “You’re not the problem.”
“No,” Katniss states as she stares at the pair, seemingly upset that they even suggested allies.
“Look,” Haymitch sighs. “You’re starting at a disadvantage. Most of these people have been friends for years.”
“That just puts us higher on their kill list,” Katniss states.
“Do it your own way,” Haymitch tells her. “But I know these people. You go it alone, their first move is going to be to hunt you down. Both of you.”
“Katniss come on,” Peeta sighs.
“How could any of us even trust each other?” she asks.
“It’s not about trust,” Haymitch responds. “It’s about staying alive.”
After the group eats they move to the lounge to watch the recap of the reapings. Haymitch proceeds to give his tributes a rundown of their competition.
“Cashmere and Gloss,” Haymitch states. “Brother and sister, District 1. They won back to back games, capital favorites, lots of sponsors. They will be lethal.”
He clicks to the next clip. “And the other half of the career pack, Brutus and Enobaria.”
“What’s with her teeth?” Katniss asks, noticing the abnormally sharp teeth in her mouth.
“She had them filed into fangs so she could rip peoples throats out,” Haymitch explains.
“She’s committed, I’ll give her that,” Peeta declares. Haymitch moves on to the next clip.
“Wiress and Beetee,” he states. “Not fighters, but brilliant and weird, real tech savvy. He won his games by electrocuting six tributes at once.” The tributes absorb this information as Haymitch moves on to the next clip.
He moves onto the next clip and Katniss speaks out. “Finnick Odair right?”
“Yes, he won his games at 14, youngest, ever, extremely humble,” Haymitch replies.
“You’re kidding,” Katniss gapes.
“Yes, I’m kidding,” Haymitch sighs. “He’s a peacock, a total preener. But he’s the capital’s darling, and they love him here; charming, smart, and very skilled at combat, especially in water.”
“What about weaknesses?” Peeta ask and Haymitch skips back to the escort calling out the female tribute’s name.
“Y/N Y/L/N,” Haymitch states. “Known in the capital as ‘the feral one’, winner of the 69th games”.
Katniss and Peeta shrink deeper into the couch.
“Isn’t she, um, a serial killer?” Peeta stutters.
“Well technically most of the victors are,” Haymitch responds. “But yes, she has killed outside of the games. She’s a deeply misunderstood creature.”
“Why is she Finnick’s weakness?” Katniss asks.
“She was Finnick’s first victor that he mentored,” Haymitch explains. “It’s hard not to get attached to the ones you bring home, especially your first. However, those two are a bit more complicated. I’d says it’s probably more of a… situationship… than an actual relationship but if you mess with either of them I can assure you that you’ll be dead pretty quickly.”
“So we should avoid them,” Peeta states, taking a mental note of Haymitch’s explanation.
“No,” Haymitch states, confusing his tributes. “The best move is to ally with them. They’re your biggest competition in the arena besides the careers, but they’re arguably more reliable and you don’t want to get on her bad side. They call her feral for a reason.”
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satans-kneecap · 6 months
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The Hunger Games Books
• Katniss is described as having dark hair, gray eyes, and olive skin (although her mother and sister are pale, blue-eyed, and blonde)
• Peeta is taller than Katniss??? (which isn’t better, Josh Hutcherson is a 5’5 king which really added to Peeta’s Movie Character)
• Haymitch is from the Seam, so he didn’t have blond hair or blue eyes
• Madge exists (and the mockingjay pin is hers that she gives to Katniss)
• Katniss gets blasted deaf in her left ear (although they quickly fix it in the Capitol)
• Peeta gets cut in the leg, and then the mutts maul it, which is the reason why he gets it amputated and gets the prosthetic leg
• Prim has a goat (I think her name was Lady?) as well as Buttercup the cat, which Katniss tells a story about after Peeta asked her to tell him a story
• Katniss attacks Peeta after he confesses about the crush during the interview, and she causes his hands to bleed
• Cato begs Clove to stay with him as she died (fuck Cato x Glimmer)
• The mutts were designed to look like the tributes (ex: one with blond fur and green eyes for Glimmer)
• Peeta has two fucking older brothers and they both watched him get picked for the Hunger Games like “damn bro that shit sucks” which is in complete contrast to Katniss and Prim
• Katniss waits the WHOLE NIGHT before mercy-killing Cato, she just let him be eaten alive for a couple hours
• We get to read about Haymitch’s Quarter Quell!!!!
• Katniss sees Finnick doing mouth-to-mouth on Peeta after his heart stops and basically thinks “Damn, Finnick, even for you this is wild”
• Her & Finnick trying to scare Peeta when he wakes up when they were all on the beach
• Katniss was ready to kill Peeta with a syringe to protect him after she got lifted out of the arena (she picks it up in the movie but it’s not really clear what her actual intentions were)
• Katniss’ prep team being chained on the wall of a room (I’m pretty sure it was in District 13 or something) just completely fucking naked???
• She fucking sucked at everything Plutarch asked her to do for the propos
To be fair, I still like the movies, but these are just some of the many differences
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captainlunaxmen · 4 months
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All for the cameras
Chapter 4
Finnick Odair x reader
This is a repost since the old blog doesn't work anymore. 🥰
Chapter summary: a little about the making of the Games, the reaping, and the Parade.
Chapter warnings: talking of lethal threats, Cal has his own warning, Snow, forced marriage.
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I take a huge gulp of wine as I sit in Plutarch's living room.
He did convince Snow to make me his personal assistant for this Quarter Quell, Plutarch told him it's a perfect way to show my "participation". Although I hate to keep up such a facade, I love that I can use it as an excuse to not stay, nor spend any time with Cal.
"Careful with that," Plutarch comes back into the room with his own glass, "we need you lucid for this."
"Trust me, I built a strong resistance to alcohol... no amount would help endure this shit anyway..." I mutter, looking at my fucking ring.
"You spent too much time with Abernathy, I'm afraid," he comments, he's not judging, no, he's probably just teasing.
"Or not enough," I tease back, he smirks amused by my answer.
He then suddenly turns the TV on, on display my answer to Cal's proposal.
I groan as I see that.
"I gotta say, that was smart," he compliments me, referring to the kiss.
"Could you turn it off? One fucking time was enough, thank you." I tell him.
"Not telling you about the Quartel Quell was smart too," he throws this out like nothing, my head snaps towards him.
"You little... that's why..." I start, but his proud stance stops me, "fine... smart thinking on your part too, okay."
"Thank you very much," he does a little bow before turning serious, "I'm sure now you can know more." He declares.
"Really?" I ask, I really want to know more and help, but at the same time I don't want to risk everyone.
"Yes, miss L/n. But... you have to know this, all this, will require a lot from you. From all of us, actually. So just know... you can still change your mind and no one will hold it against you." He explains, I can feel he is sincere, I know I can trust him.
I take a deep breath, this is a good chance to actually change things here... I won't pass this opportunity.
"Anything." I say and he smiles.
"Alright, our primarily goal is to get Katniss out." He starts and I nod, of course she would be the face of the revolution, "every Victor involved knows that,"
"Did you warn them? The ones involved?" I ask.
"Didn't have the chance... not everyone... I also need you to start thinking that not everyone will see this revolution starts." He says bitterly.
"I..." I don't know what to say, so I try to reason it, "yeah... of course... if not all of them know... the others would just want to survive, as always."
"Reasoning won't help you much this time," he says and he uses the remote to change the scene on the screen.
The reaping ceremony of each district.
"Cashmere and Gloss... God... they're brother and sister.."
"It never stopped the Capitol before. It just adds up to the drama." Plutarch sighs.
"I know," I sigh as the next district's reaping starts, "it may sounds cliché, but Enobaria is actually a sweet person... when you get past the teeth," I try to chuckle to ease my tension. Yeah... I might not see some of them after...
"Please tell me you were smart enough to recruit Beetee," I look at Plutarch who nods confidently.
"Oh..."
"This is where I wanted you," he says softly.
"Finnick... yeah... I... it makes sense..." I say as I see him walking up the stage.
"You need to..."
He doesn't have the time to finish his sentence before I let out a big gasp.
"Mags volunteered..." I whisper, "she... she can't... they can't... not them both... oh c'mon..."
"I'm sorry. When the time comes we will do our best to take everyone to safety, but..." he explains.
"But you can't control what happens in the arena..." I mutter, "not without raising suspects. I know."
I hear him sigh and walking closer to me, offering a comforting hand on my shoulder, I nod and we go on watching the reaping.
Johanna of course... I know she has all the skills to protect herself in there, but she's still my friend and I can't not worry. Especially knowing she has nothing left to lose.
Finally we get to 12 and of course Katniss, being the only living female victor, she's reaped.
Time for the male.
Haymitch's name is said, and for a split moment my heart breaks, but Peeta is quick to volunteer for him. I see Katniss shocked and terrified expression and I know she asked Haymitch to volunteer in his place if the roles were reverse.
"That was rigged... wasn't it?" I ask.
"Exactly, we need Haymitch here and..." he motion for me to go on.
"She needs Peeta there," I say earning a proud nod from him, "she just doesn't know it."
There's a moment of silence, where I take a second to recollect myself and take a sip of wine.
"Now," he claps his hands, "to make your participation more believable... you need to write down 2 ideas for the arena."
"What?" I ask, "I thought the arena was already decided."
"The arena yes... not the threats inside." He says.
"What do you mean?" I'm actually confused right now.
"This year arena is... quite special," he starts explaining, showing the concept on the screen, "it's divided in sections, like this, each section hosts a threat. Like these: acid fog, monkeys, this big wave... And so on."
"Acid fog? Isn't it a little too much?" I ask getting nervous for my friends.
"I told you it's gonna be hard," he gives me a sympathetic smile, "and we need your suggestions to be... authentic. It has to look like you're actually putting an effort."
I sigh, bouncing my leg.
I need to think of something that's horrifying, but safe at the same time.
They're all there... all my friends are there. The only family I've ever known since... I shake my head and drink more wine.
"Okay. Yeah... I get it." I nod, "when do you need it?"
"Tomorrow." He answers, "I have faith you can do it and... you can say you're busy working for me." He winks at me with a reassuring smile.
"That's the only good thing," I let out a humourless laugh and take one last gulp of wine before standing up. "Then I should get going. Thank you, Mr Heavensbee."
I walk towards the exit when Plutarch's voice stops me.
"One more thing," he calls and I turn my head, "even though you'll try and think of the least lethal threat... they might kill someone anyway. Keep that in mind."
I nod and walk out.
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As I enter my apartment I instantly smell flowers... lots of them.
I look around and I see, probably, more than 10 bouquets of flowers.
"Oh god..." I sigh, defeated. I look at some of them, noticing most are from "admirers" congratulating me for my engagement.
But there are three that catch my eyes more than the others.
One, huge, bouquet is made by all sort of flowers, I don't think I've ever seen such variety of flowers in the first place. I look at the card... I groan, it's from Cal.
"My love, everyday I count the days that separate us from being finally together.
I can't wait for you to be mine.
Properly mine.
Enjoy your job, my sweetness, and happy Hunger Games!
Love,
Cal Kingslay. "
I throw the whole bouquet with the rest, and just look at the other. It's simple and small, my favourite flowers and a few seashells here and there, the thing holding the bouquet it's not paper... it's fish nets... Finnick. I unconsciously smile as I take the card.
"I wanT to congRatUlate you, my SweeT girl!
TheY tOld me the news jUst now! Miss L/n, You shouLd've tOld me, I've neVer beEn so happy!
Congratulations!
Dario."
He signs each letters, making it look like it was ink fallen from the pen... smart.
"I trust you, my love"
He even signed it with an anagram of his name. I let out a laugh at that and move to the last bouquet.
Even smaller then Finnick's, a few green leaves are like a frame for the one, white rose.
I shakily take the card in my hand.
"Congratulations on your engagement, my dear. I look forward to see what you'll come up with for our Games.
I'm sure one day you'll make a fine Gamemaker."
There's no sign, not that he needed to...
"Gamemaker... yeah... sure." I scoff.
I go to the kitchen to get myself some wine. As I'm about to pour a glass, I look at the bottle and just... take it all with me to my room.
I sit on the desk in my room and, as I take some gulps from the bottle, I try to come up with some ideas.
Plutarch mentioned a few potentially lethal threat already, I mean... acid fog, deadly monkeys, that I'm sure will be modified.
What to do, what to do...
Other animals maybe, but a non lethal one... something that creates a hassle, but not death.
Bugs?
I shake my head, no, they would make it poisonous no matter what my suggestion is.
Something else, something else.
Jabberjays. Yes!
I write down my idea and take the bottle to take a big gulp, but the bottle slips from my grasp and falls on the desk spilling the liquid all over the desk and the pavement.
"Shit!"
I manage to safe the paper I was writing on and I immediately go take a towel to wipe the wine off.
As I kneel down cleaning the liquid, I find myself staring at the little drops of wine falling from the desk to the floor.
The dark liquid looks a lot like... blood.
Blood rain.
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I walk nervously behind Plutarch, he just told me Snow wanted to hear my ideas himself, so now, as I'm walking I clench my fists nervously.
"You couldn't have told me sooner?" I ask him.
"He didn't ask me sooner," Plutarch answers as we finally stand out of Snow's office, "you wrote it?"
"Of course," I slightly scoff at his answer.
"Then take a deep breath and... show time," Plutarch smiles and knock on the door.
"Come in," Snow's voice gives us permission to enter.
"President," Plutarch greets him.
"Good morning, sir," I say, putting up the best 'diligent student' appearance.
"Good morning, Mr Heavensbee," he nods towards Plutarch and then turns to me, "and what a pleasure, miss L/n."
"You said you wanted to hear her ideas for the arena, right?" Plutarch starts.
"Oh, of course!" Snow's suddenly happy, as if he's about to hear a good story, "tell me, my dear girl, what did you think of?"
If it were a different universe this could've seemed a sweet exchange. The old "mentor" interested in his protégé ideas...
"When Plutarch showed me the arena and the already existing threats, I have to admit I was intrigued," I start and I see, from the corner of my eyes Plutarch smiling proudly, "but at the same time, I was a little bored." I say and that earned a surprised 'oh?' from Snow, "I mean... from those you either die or survive... so I thought of something more psychological."
"Oh, now that's interesting, my dear, please go on." Snow is pleased so far.
"I thought of a section of the arena where... uh..." I pretend to stutter for a second, to give him the impression that I'm nervous because I care for his opinion.
"Don't be shy, I'm open to all suggestions,"
"I thought of a blood rain... sir." I say.
I see him pondering the idea, then a smile creeps it's way on his face, it makes me sick.
"I like it," he finally says looking at Plutarch, "she's smart, isn't she?"
"Very smart, sir." Plutarch agrees.
"I'm even more curious to hear the other idea, please don't leave me hanging," Snow's 'sweet' tone almost freezes me to the spot, but I swallow hard and just ignore this feeling.
"Jabberjays." Is all I say.
He looks a little taken aback, and motion for me to elaborate.
"I thought about using Jabberjays that imitate the screams of people the tributes know." I say, pretending to feel unsure of my idea, "maybe create a sort of an invisible wall that prevents them from escaping if they finds the birds."
Snow looks at me, considering me for a moment, then he smiles, that sick smile once again.
"You were right in recruiting her, Mr Heavensbee. Good thinking, miss L/n, very good thinking." He compliments Plutarch and me.
"Thank you, sir." I smile.
"No, thank you," he says, "now, one more thing before I dismiss you."
I nod and stay put, even though I was ready to run, or better walk very fast, out of here.
"This role of assistant Gamemaker won't exonerate you from your duty to assist the mentors," he tells me.
"I wouldn't dream of it, sir, I've always taken my role very seriously," I tell him, faking pride as I speak.
"I know, my dear." He smiles, almost as if he knows I wasn't exactly fond of it, "we were supposed to randomly assign you to one district, like every year, but we thought to just let you stick to 12. Apparently the Capitol's people loved your... friendship with the two victors." He says the word 'friendship' with a not so convinced tone, almost repulsed.
"Of course, sir." I nod my head, eager to just get out of here.
"But," he adds, probably keeping me longer to see when I'll crumble, I look briefly at Plutarch who keeps his confidence stance, "you'll be assisting all of the districts." I look at him confused and he continues, "I mean, you'll be present during the training sessions and will help."
"Oh, yes, sir, of course." I nod again.
"That's all." He claps his hands, satisfied, "the tributes arrive today so... better be there to welcome them home."
'Home'...
"I'm going right now, sir." I promptly tell him, he smiles and motions me to go and to Plutarch to stay.
"Send my regards to Cal Kingslay when you see him," I hear him say as I walk out, not bothering to answer him I just go straight to the tributes living centre.
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I enter the building and see Haymitch, Effie, Katniss and Peeta arriving.
"Well, well, well, aren't you lot a sight for sore eyes?" I say once I'm close enough to pull Peeta into a hug.
"Oh! We got the Princess this year too, uh? The president is spoiling us," Haymitch jokes ans I roll my eyes as I hug Katniss.
"Rather spoiling me," I greet Effie too, in the perfect 'Capitol style', "lots of opportunities."
"I figured," Haymitch says wrapping his arms around me.
"Now," I say holding my arms open, theatrically, "let's take you to your apartments."
I start walking towards the elevator, heading to the attic, again.
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Once inside we start to have lunch, the atmosphere is quite tense before Effie breaks the silence.
"All right," she starts, clearing her throat, "before we begin, I've had a thought."
"You don't say?" Haymitch jokes, unimpressed.
"Be nice," I tell him, throwing a balled-up napkin at him.
"Katniss has her gold Mockingjay pin. I have my hair. I'm going to get you three something gold." She declares, as if it were something obvious.
Haymitch looks at both me and Peeta, confused, before asking why.
"A token." Effie explains, "Show them we are a team. And they can't just..." she starts getting emotional and Katniss takes her hands.
"Thank you." She tells her, meaning it.
Effie might be too theatrical sometimes, but she's so much more than that, I'm grateful I got to know this side of her. I take her hand too.
"That's really sweet, Effie." I smile at her, "and... thank you for including me."
I notice both Peeta and Katniss sharing a look as if I said something unbelievable, but I ignore it.
Not the time.
"Now..." Effie composes herself, "everything will be different, because it's a Quarter Quell. The Capitol has spared no expense. A new training centre. New Tribute living quarters. And of course, a very special arena."
I tense at that, I took part in that...
"But this year you'll be facing other Victors." I step in, " all Capitol favourites. Smart, cunning, skilled... angry. And they all know one another. You two are the outsiders."
" I want you guys to forget everything you think you know about the Games. Last year was child's play." Haymitch starts explaining, he's the best to mentor them about a Quarter Quell, "this year, you're dealing with all experienced killers."
"All right," Peeta speaks up, "what does it mean for us?"
"Allies." I tell him, "you'll be needing allies."
"Okay. I think that if..." Peeta's reply is quickly interrupted.
"You're not the problem." I say and, I don't have to say anything more, Haymitch is already pointing at Katniss.
"No." She sternly says.
"A little help, Haymitch?" I ask him.
"Look, you're starting at a disadvantage. Most of these people have been friends for years."
"That just puts us higher on their killing list." She replies, annoyed.
I roll my eyes, she needs to do her part.
"Do it your own way, but I know these people. You go it alone, their first move is gonna be to hunt you down." Haymitch keeps explaining, patiently, "both of you."
"Katniss, come on," Peeta's sweet tone seems to convince her... a tiny bit.
She sighs deeply, which usually mean she's gonna listen, even though she doesn't agree.
"How could any of us even trust each other?" She then asks.
"It's not about trust. It's about staying alive," he states.
Peeta and Katniss look at each other and finally Katniss nod her head.
"Great!" I cheer, "time for some brainstorming, shall we?" And I stand up walking to the living room.
They soon follow and Haymitch turns the TV on, so they can see who the other Victors are, and who might seem like a good ally.
"Cashmere and Gloss. Brother and sister. District one. They one back-to-back Games. Capitol favourites. Lots of sponsors." He shows them the siblings.
"They will be lethal." I add and Haymitch nods, strongly agreeing.
"And the other half of the Career Pack, Brutus and Enobaria."
"What's with her teeth?" Of course, Katniss asks about the teeth.
"She... well... she had them filed into fangs..." I respond, "so she could... rip people's throat out better."
"She's committed. I'll give her that." Peeta comments, I can sense some tension in him... which is very understandable.
"Wiress and Beetee," Haymitch keeps on presenting the tributes, "not fighters, but brilliant."
"Very brilliant," I agree.
"And weird." He adds, earning a glare from me, "real texh-savvy. He won his Games by electrocuting six tributes at once." He changes the scene again, "the Morphlings. Masters of camouflage. Basically, won their Games by hiding until everyone was dead. Self-medicating ever since. Which I applaud. Not a threat."
We arrive at District 4 reaping.
"Finnick Odair, right?" Katniss asks.
Haymitch looks at me, silently telling me to explain this one myself, there's a hint of a smirk on his face that makes me roll my eyes for, what feels like, the millionth time today.
"Yep. The one and only." I starts, "he won his Games at 14. He's the youngest Victor ever... of course modesty is his peculiarity." I joke.
"You're kidding."
"Kinda," I chuckle, "he's very confident. Very. But... he's the Capitol's darling. They all love him here." Unfortunately, I want to add. "He's smart, he's skilled at combat, especially... especially in water."
"What about weaknesses?" Peeta asks, interested.
"Only one..." I sigh, deeply, "Mags. She... she volunteer for Annie. Mags was his mentor, the year that I was assigned to 4, she raised him, basically. He will try to protect her, even though it would expose him."
"A guy like that has to know she's not gonna make it," Katniss shakes her head, unconvinced, Haymitch looks at me knowingly, "I bet when it really comes down to it, he won't protect her."
I really want to hit her right now, but I know it's not her fault, she thinks this because it's what the Capitol wanted everyone else to think. That's what he had to pretend to be.
"Well... she's an amazing woman, Katniss, I... I just hope that... if... w-when she goes, she goes quickly." I stutter out. It took everything in me to say that... I want to hope we will rescue everyone before that happens... I really do.
I space out as Haymitch goes on explaining and introducing the other tributes.
I can feel his eyes on me every now and then, but I stopped pay attention minutes ago now.
Mags is the mother I never had... if there is one person who deserves to see a free Panem, it's her.
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I was walking on the train heading to the restaurant car where I found an old lady sitting there, drinking a cup of tea.
"Hi..." I shyly said.
"Oh hello, dear." She greeted me with such a kind smile, I felt so much better and less nervous.
"I'm... I'm Y/n." I started to introduce myself, but her hand gently taking mine stopped me.
"I know, dear. I'm Mags." Another kind smile, "you're here to assist me, right?"
"Yeah." My hands were getting sweaty... I was so nervous.
"Hey, no need to worry about it. We can do it." She reassured me.
"I hope so..." I muttered under my breath.
She sighed and offer a seat to me, I took it and stared at the cups on the table.
"I watched you last year," her voice was soft as she spoke, "you were assigned to... what district?"
"5"
"But you were helping the little one from 11, right?" She asked.
I snapped my head to her, eyes wide open.
"Please, don't worry about it. I never told anyone." She assured me, handing me a warm cup, "I just meant that I saw you're not like the rest of them, my dear. You care."
"My tributes didn't want to listen, they were older than me and thought I was just a spy... which is understandable." I sadly kept my head low. "That boy from 11 was my age and... he was having trouble with some essential survival techniques."
"He got pretty far thanks to those." She tried to make me feel better.
"Not far enough," I bitterly replied.
"I'm sorry." I let her take my hand again, "it's not a consolation, I know, trust me, but... I have a feeling we can do it."
"They won't trust me," I told her, referring to the tributes from 4.
"Not at first... and most likely not the girl... but the boy, he seems to be more open to suggestions." She explained.
"I'm not sure he would accept suggestions from me."
"He's a smart one. Same age as you. Just be yourself and he will trust you." She smiled.
I considered her for a moment before nodding. Hope growing a little more.
The door of the car opening had my head turning immediately.
"My dear Y/n," Mags stood up and walked towards the boy entering, "this is Finnick Odair. Finnick, this is Y/n."
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"Are you okay?" Haymitch's voice snaps me out of my thoughts.
"Uh? Yeah... yeah, sorry, I zoned out." I apologise.
"I noticed." He sits with me.
"Where are they?" I ask, noticing no one else was in sight.
"Getting ready for the parade." He answers.
"Right... I better get going too. I have to check everyone is ready..." I tiredly sigh as I stand up, but Haymitch softly pulls me back down.
"If you take a few minutes it won't be a tragedy." He tells me, "what's going on in that head of yours?"
"Nothing... I just started to think about Mags." I whisper, afraid someone might hear.
"Plutarch gave you the speech?" He asks and I nod, "I'm really sorry, Y/n."
"It's okay... I mean, it's not, but I think it was inevitable... she would've never let anyone else go, not if she had any say in it." I tell him, "she's strong." I see him starting to speak but I beat him to it, "I know better than to keep my hopes up, trust me, I know."
He just sighs and wrap one reassuring arms around my shoulder.
"I really better get going now, gotta check on those outfits." I stand up.
"You do that, sweetheart." Haymitch smiles at me and I walk to the elevator.
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I walk out of the elevator heading to where the parade is about to begin and I instantly loom for someone.
I spot immediately Peeta talking to Cinna, who's probably refining last minutes details.
"Hello." I greet once I'm close enough, Cinna turns around giving me a small smile and a hug. "You look good, mr Mellark."
"Only with his help it's possible." Peeta, humble as usual, replies pointing at Cinna.
"I'm not a magician, I can make people look good if they're worthy." Cinna shakes his head, waving off the compliment.
"I couldn't agree more." I sigh, "so, are you lot ready? Where's Katniss?"
"She's should be here soon, her dress is a little more complicated than Peeta's." Cinna answers, "and, since you're here, I was thinking about them not doing anything out there."
"What do you mean?" I ask.
"I mean, no waving, no smiling, nothing of sort. Act like they're above them. What do you think?" He explains, genuinely interested in my opinion.
"I think it's perfect." I smile and he return it.
"Oh, there she is." Peeta points behind us, I turn seeing Katniss talking to Finnick, who's a lot close. I hope he's not putting up his flirting persona, I don't think Katniss would trust him so easily then.
Peeta excuses himself to join her, just as Finnick walks away... spotting me.
"Snow asked..." Cinna gently nudges my arm and lowers his voice, "or better, ordered me to make her wear a wedding dress for the interview."
"Of course..." I roll my eyes. "You good with that?
"Oh yeah...I got a great idea for it." He says, I look into his eyes seeing determination so I don't ask more questions.
"Better get them ready to go, it's almost time." I tell him.
Cinna walks to Katniss and Peeta and I turn to check if someone else needs a hand with something or needs advice, unlikely, but never say never.
I see Mags petting a horse so I decide to go to her.
As soon as she sees me her smile grows ten times, warming my heart.
"You look very beautiful," I tell her, once we're close enough I hug her, "I'm so sorry." I whisper into her ear.
She pulls away gently, looking at me with that kind smile that always makes me feel better. She caresses my cheek with her hand, reassuringly, nodding her head to tell me that it's alright.
I nod too, taking a deep breath.
"Do you think I look presentable?" A very familiar voice says from behind me.
I look at Mags, rolling my eyes, glad I made her laugh a little.
I turn around, fully admir... noticing his naked chest and the golden fish net tied at his... oh shit.
"My eyes are up here, sweetheart." He smirks and I just turn my head away, shaking it as I try to pull myself together.
"Did your stylists finished the fabric?" I finally say, "I could've ordered some, if they told me."
"Of course," he smiles and walk closer to me, leaning down to whisper into my ear, "just between us... I'm wearing it just for you."
My head snaps to him, our faces mere inches apart. I notice his eyes looking down to my lips, I instantly put some distance walking up to district 3.
"And here I thought you would never come to say hi," Beetee waves.
"Did you lose all hope in me? And here I thought you were the smart one." I tease back.
"It's a pity seeing each other here, under these circumstances." Wiress shakes my hand.
"I know. I wish it were different..." I look down, sad and ashamed too, Beetee softly touches my arm. I look up at him noticing him mouthing something on the line of 'it's gonna be fine' so I smile at him. "Well, don't you two look great?"
I compliment them, just before the announcer warned us of the beginning.
I wave them goodbye for now and head back, watching every district ride out there.
When it's Finnick's turn he turns to me and winks at me, earning a big eye roll. When it's finally District 12 turn as they pass by I nod my head, encouraging them. I see them looking st each other and straighten their back proudly.
I walk towards the end of the parade, where they should get off the chariots and head back to the elevators, and I wait.
I look at them in the distance, taking deep breaths to calm my nerves.
All of a sudden I feel someone watching me from behind.
"You did a pretty good job, my sweetness." His voice makes me wince.
I turn around, showing the usual fake smile I show to everyone in the Capitol, pretending to be happy to see him.
"Cal... hi." I say, holding back from walking away as he nears, "what are you doing here?"
"I missed you. I didn't scare you, didn't I?" He says with a smile, that clearly shows he's proud he did.
"Of course, not. I was just thinking." I tell him sweetly.
"What about?" He ask, curious.
"Well, I have a lot to do these days and when they're back I'll have to make sure everything is organised." I tell him. "And also, taking part in the making of the Games... Plutarch asked me to write down some ideas."
This is probably the only time I'm glad I have this job, if I didn't, Cal would've kept me basically locked up, in his apartment. 'All to himself'... the thought makes me shiver.
"Would you share them with me?" He whispers.
"I can't ruin the fun, can I?" I say back.
"Aahh... you're killing me, babe." He shakes his head chuckling.
If only...
"No special treatment, Cal." I smile, feeling uneasy from the way he's looking at me.
In that moment, thankfully, I hear the parade is ending, which means everybody is about to get back.
"Such a diligent girl." He moves his hand to take mine. I let out a nervous laugh and a 'thanks', and finally, one district at a time, they're back.
I lock eyes with some of the Tributes, who noticing Cal with me, tense and give me sympathetic smile.
Then Finnick's back.
As soon as he sees me, he can't keep up the fake smile and his expression darkens.
"Well... I'm sorry, but I have to go now. I'll see you." I say, starting to turn around, but his hand grabs my arm. Rather harshly, which makes my eyes widen at that.
"We hardly see each other these days... I miss you." He looms over me, a dark look in his eyes.
"Well... uh..." I clear my throat, looking at the tributes still arriving, "I have a job to.. to do."
I see Mags and Finnick, she has a hand on his arm, to stop him from coming here.
"Good thing that when we're married you won't need to work, then." He tells me directly into my ear, "I would be able to have you any day I want."
"Wouldn't that be a dream..?" I choke out, my throat tightens. I still look at Finnick, more to check he doesn't intervenes than anything.
"There you are!" We both look at the source of the sound, Johanna.
I let out a sigh of relief as she walks closer.
"I was looking for you." She says, "they told me to ask you for the schedule."
"Yes... yes! I got it." I tell her.
Johanna pretends to notice Cal just now and extends her hand towards him.
"Oh hey there! You must be the lucky one, uh?" Johanna greets him.
Cal looks at her sceptically before shaking her hand.
"Yes, that's me."
"So nice to finally meet you, she talks about you all the time!" Johanna's (fake) cheery personality and flattery seem to work on Cal, who smiles smugly, "you don't mind if I steal her, do you?"
Before Cal could answer, she pulls me to her linking arms and walks away.
"God, he looks so annoying." She groans.
"He is... he is." I sigh, relieved.
"I thought about stepping in before Finnick over there could rip his eyes out," she teases. "So... how are the lovebirds?"
"They're completely in love." I tell her, she nods smiling knowingly.
I spot them talking with district 11 tributes, I wave at Haymitch, letting him know I'll be up in a second.
"Ugh... he still looking this way," Johanna complains getting in front of me, "is he always like this?"
"Even worse." I roll my eyes.
"Alright," she take the end of her dress in her hands showing it to me, "Plutarch told me."
I understand now what she's doing with her dress, she's pretending to show it to me, so it looks like we're talking about the dress.
"I know," I say touching the fabric, pretending to check it out, "you're sure about doing this?"
"Of course I am," she now turns to 'make me see her back', "never been more sure."
"I'm just sorry," I tell her, motioning for her to turn back around.
"No need too," she smiles, an emotionless smile, "oh he's gone.. finally."
"Thanks for saving me," I tell her.
"Anytime," she says, she turns her head towards the elevator, "well... I'll go introduce myself."
"Be nice." I tell her, she winks at me and walks away to the elevator with Katniss, Peeta and Haymitch.
I go over the last details, seeing the horses are attended to, the chariots are about to be put away, everything seems fine.
I then walk to the elevator myself, I lean against the elevator's wall as soon as I enter.
Before the doors can close, someone rushes in, I look up finding myself face to face with Finnick.
Being in a confined space with a shirtless Finnick is...
"Hi, my love."
Shit.
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lunamadhatter99 · 5 months
Text
All for The Cameras
Chapter 4
Finnick Odair x fem!reader
I would like to take a moment to thank you all for the support and love for this story. Thank you so so much. I'm not very confident so it means a lot. Thank you all❤️❤️❤️
If you're new and would like to be added to the tag list, tell me🔥
Chapter summary: a little about the making of the Games, the Reaping, and the Parade.
Chapter warnings: talking of lethal threats, Cal is has his own warning, Snow, forced marriage.
Tag list
@guacam011y @justtrying2getby @idontevenknow1359 @alexandra-001 @bambikitten @maggiecc @redh00dsbf @haneybunny @1-800-styles @sisiking99 @merromimo @yourdailymemedelivery @regsg18 @gordorio @bambikitten @gracieeleanorr @shev3nom @honethatty12 @savingprivatecass @erindiggory @martahabla @sterredem @aawdrea @wpdarlingpan @strawberry--fawn @barbarathewanderer @ih8books @a-mysterious-potato @mayonesavegana @celinaiscrying
I don't know why I can't tag some people, I'm sorry 😞
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I take a huge gulp of wine as I sit in Plutarch's living room.
He did convince Snow to make me his personal assistant for this Quarter Quell, Plutarch told him it's a perfect way to show my "participation". Although I hate to keep up such a facade, I love that I can use it as an excuse to not stay, nor spend any time with Cal.
"Careful with that," Plutarch comes back into the room with his own glass, "we need you lucid for this."
"Trust me, I built a strong resistance to alcohol... no amount would help endure this shit anyway..." I mutter, looking at my fucking ring.
"You spent too much time with Abernathy, I'm afraid," he comments, he's not judging, no, he's probably just teasing.
"Or not enough," I tease back, he smirks amused by my answer.
He then suddenly turns the TV on, on display my answer to Cal's proposal.
I groan as I see that.
"I gotta say, that was smart," he compliments me, referring to the kiss.
"Could you turn it off? One fucking time was enough, thank you." I tell him.
"Not telling you about the Quartel Quell was smart too," he throws this out like nothing, my head snaps towards him.
"You little... that's why..." I start, but his proud stance stops me, "fine... smart thinking on your part too, okay."
"Thank you very much," he does a little bow before turning serious, "I'm sure now you can know more." He declares.
"Really?" I ask, I really want to know more and help, but at the same time I don't want to risk everyone.
"Yes, miss L/n. But... you have to know this, all this, will require a lot from you. From all of us, actually. So just know... you can still change your mind and no one will hold it against you." He explains, I can feel he is sincere, I know I can trust him.
I take a deep breath, this is a good chance to actually change things here... I won't pass this opportunity.
"Anything." I say and he smiles.
"Alright, our primarily goal is to get Katniss out." He starts and I nod, of course she would be the face of the revolution, "every Victor involved knows that,"
"Did you warn them? The ones involved?" I ask.
"Didn't have the chance... not everyone... I also need you to start thinking that not everyone will see this revolution starts." He says bitterly.
"I..." I don't know what to say, so I try to reason it, "yeah... of course... if not all of them know... the others would just want to survive, as always."
"Reasoning won't help you much this time," he says and he uses the remote to change the scene on the screen.
The reaping ceremony of each district.
"Cashmere and Gloss... God... they're brother and sister.."
"It never stopped the Capitol before. It just adds up to the drama." Plutarch sighs.
"I know," I sigh as the next district's reaping starts, "it may sounds cliché, but Enobaria is actually a sweet person... when you get past the teeth," I try to chuckle to ease my tension. Yeah... I might not see some of them after...
"Please tell me you were smart enough to recruit Beetee," I look at Plutarch who nods confidently.
"Oh..."
"This is where I wanted you," he says softly.
"Finnick... yeah... I... it makes sense..." I say as I see him walking up the stage.
"You need to..."
He doesn't have the time to finish his sentence before I let out a big gasp.
"Mags volunteered..." I whisper, "she... she can't... they can't... not them both... oh c'mon..."
"I'm sorry. When the time comes we will do our best to take everyone to safety, but..." he explains.
"But you can't control what happens in the arena..." I mutter, "not without raising suspects. I know."
I hear him sigh and walking closer to me, offering a comforting hand on my shoulder, I nod and we go on watching the reaping.
Johanna of course... I know she has all the skills to protect herself in there, but she's still my friend and I can't not worry. Especially knowing she has nothing left to lose.
Finally we get to 12 and of course Katniss, being the only living female victor, she's reaped.
Time for the male.
Haymitch's name is said, and for a split moment my heart breaks, but Peeta is quick to volunteer for him. I see Katniss shocked and terrified expression and I know she asked Haymitch to volunteer in his place if the roles were reverse.
"That was rigged... wasn't it?" I ask.
"Exactly, we need Haymitch here and..." he motion for me to go on.
"She needs Peeta there," I say earning a proud nod from him, "she just doesn't know it."
There's a moment of silence, where I take a second to recollect myself and take a sip of wine.
"Now," he claps his hands, "to make your participation more believable... you need to write down 2 ideas for the arena."
"What?" I ask, "I thought the arena was already decided."
"The arena yes... not the threats inside." He says.
"What do you mean?" I'm actually confused right now.
"This year arena is... quite special," he starts explaining, showing the concept on the screen, "it's divided in sections, like this, each section hosts a threat. Like these: acid fog, monkeys, this big wave... And so on."
"Acid fog? Isn't it a little too much?" I ask getting nervous for my friends.
"I told you it's gonna be hard," he gives me a sympathetic smile, "and we need your suggestions to be... authentic. It has to look like you're actually putting an effort."
I sigh, bouncing my leg.
I need to think of something that's horrifying, but safe at the same time.
They're all there... all my friends are there. The only family I've ever known since... I shake my head and drink more wine.
"Okay. Yeah... I get it." I nod, "when do you need it?"
"Tomorrow." He answers, "I have faith you can do it and... you can say you're busy working for me." He winks at me with a reassuring smile.
"That's the only good thing," I let out a humourless laugh and take one last gulp of wine before standing up. "Then I should get going. Thank you, Mr Heavensbee."
I walk towards the exit when Plutarch's voice stops me.
"One more thing," he calls and I turn my head, "even though you'll try and think of the least lethal threat... they might kill someone anyway. Keep that in mind."
I nod and walk out.
----------------
As I enter my apartment I instantly smell flowers... lots of them.
I look around and I see, probably, more than 10 bouquets of flowers.
"Oh god..." I sigh, defeated. I look at some of them, noticing most are from "admirers" congratulating me for my engagement.
But there are three that catch my eyes more than the others.
One, huge, bouquet is made by all sort of flowers, I don't think I've ever seen such variety of flowers in the first place. I look at the card... I groan, it's from Cal.
"My love, everyday I count the days that separate us from being finally together.
I can't wait for you to be mine.
Properly mine.
Enjoy your job, my sweetness, and happy Hunger Games!
Love,
Cal Kingslay. "
I throw the whole bouquet with the rest, and just look at the other. It's simple and small, my favourite flowers and a few seashells here and there, the thing holding the bouquet it's not paper... it's fish nets... Finnick. I unconsciously smile as I take the card.
"I wanT to congRatUlate you, my SweeT girl!
TheY tOld me the news jUst now! Miss L/n, You shouLd've tOld me, I've neVer beEn so happy!
Congratulations!
Dario."
He signs each letters, making it look like it was ink fallen from the pen... smart.
"I trust you, my love"
He even signed it with an anagram of his name. I let out a laugh at that and move to the last bouquet.
Even smaller then Finnick's, a few green leaves are like a frame for the one, white rose.
I shakily take the card in my hand.
"Congratulations on your engagement, my dear. I look forward to see what you'll come up with for our Games.
I'm sure one day you'll make a fine Gamemaker."
There's no sign, not that he needed to...
"Gamemaker... yeah... sure." I scoff.
I go to the kitchen to get myself some wine. As I'm about to pour a glass, I look at the bottle and just... take it all with me to my room.
I sit on the desk in my room and, as I take some gulps from the bottle, I try to come up with some ideas.
Plutarch mentioned a few potentially lethal threat already, I mean... acid fog, deadly monkeys, that I'm sure will be modified.
What to do, what to do...
Other animals maybe, but a non lethal one... something that creates a hassle, but not death.
Bugs?
I shake my head, no, they would make it poisonous no matter what my suggestion is.
Something else, something else.
Jabberjays. Yes!
I write down my idea and take the bottle to take a big gulp, but the bottle slips from my grasp and falls on the desk spilling the liquid all over the desk and the pavement.
"Shit!"
I manage to safe the paper I was writing on and I immediately go take a towel to wipe the wine off.
As I kneel down cleaning the liquid, I find myself staring at the little drops of wine falling from the desk to the floor.
The dark liquid looks a lot like... blood.
Blood rain.
-------------
I walk nervously behind Plutarch, he just told me Snow wanted to hear my ideas himself, so now, as I'm walking I clench my fists nervously.
"You couldn't have told me sooner?" I ask him.
"He didn't ask me sooner," Plutarch answers as we finally stand out of Snow's office, "you wrote it?"
"Of course," I slightly scoff at his answer.
"Then take a deep breath and... show time," Plutarch smiles and knock on the door.
"Come in," Snow's voice gives us permission to enter.
"President," Plutarch greets him.
"Good morning, sir," I say, putting up the best 'diligent student' appearance.
"Good morning, Mr Heavensbee," he nods towards Plutarch and then turns to me, "and what a pleasure, miss L/n."
"You said you wanted to hear her ideas for the arena, right?" Plutarch starts.
"Oh, of course!" Snow's suddenly happy, as if he's about to hear a good story, "tell me, my dear girl, what did you think of?"
If it were a different universe this could've seemed a sweet exchange. The old "mentor" interested in his protégé ideas...
"When Plutarch showed me the arena and the already existing threats, I have to admit I was intrigued," I start and I see, from the corner of my eyes Plutarch smiling proudly, "but at the same time, I was a little bored." I say and that earned a surprised 'oh?' from Snow, "I mean... from those you either die or survive... so I thought of something more psychological."
"Oh, now that's interesting, my dear, please go on." Snow is pleased so far.
"I thought of a section of the arena where... uh..." I pretend to stutter for a second, to give him the impression that I'm nervous because I care for his opinion.
"Don't be shy, I'm open to all suggestions,"
"I thought of a blood rain... sir." I say.
I see him pondering the idea, then a smile creeps it's way on his face, it makes me sick.
"I like it," he finally says looking at Plutarch, "she's smart, isn't she?"
"Very smart, sir." Plutarch agrees.
"I'm even more curious to hear the other idea, please don't leave me hanging," Snow's 'sweet' tone almost freezes me to the spot, but I swallow hard and just ignore this feeling.
"Jabberjays." Is all I say.
He looks a little taken aback, and motion for me to elaborate.
"I thought about using Jabberjays that imitate the screams of people the tributes know." I say, pretending to feel unsure of my idea, "maybe create a sort of an invisible wall that prevents them from escaping if they finds the birds."
Snow looks at me, considering me for a moment, then he smiles, that sick smile once again.
"You were right in recruiting her, Mr Heavensbee. Good thinking, miss L/n, very good thinking." He compliments Plutarch and me.
"Thank you, sir." I smile.
"No, thank you," he says, "now, one more thing before I dismiss you."
I nod and stay put, even though I was ready to run, or better walk very fast, out of here.
"This role of assistant Gamemaker won't exonerate you from your duty to assist the mentors," he tells me.
"I wouldn't dream of it, sir, I've always taken my role very seriously," I tell him, faking pride as I speak.
"I know, my dear." He smiles, almost as if he knows I wasn't exactly fond of it, "we were supposed to randomly assign you to one district, like every year, but we thought to just let you stick to 12. Apparently the Capitol's people loved your... friendship with the two victors." He says the word 'friendship' with a not so convinced tone, almost repulsed.
"Of course, sir." I nod my head, eager to just get out of here.
"But," he adds, probably keeping me longer to see when I'll crumble, I look briefly at Plutarch who keeps his confidence stance, "you'll be assisting all of the districts." I look at him confused and he continues, "I mean, you'll be present during the training sessions and will help."
"Oh, yes, sir, of course." I nod again.
"That's all." He claps his hands, satisfied, "the tributes arrive today so... better be there to welcome them home."
'Home'...
"I'm going right now, sir." I promptly tell him, he smiles and motions me to go and to Plutarch to stay.
"Send my regards to Cal Kingslay when you see him," I hear him say as I walk out, not bothering to answer him I just go straight to the tributes living centre.
--------------
I enter the building and see Haymitch, Effie, Katniss and Peeta arriving.
"Well, well, well, aren't you lot a sight for sore eyes?" I say once I'm close enough to pull Peeta into a hug.
"Oh! We got the Princess this year too, uh? The president is spoiling us," Haymitch jokes ans I roll my eyes as I hug Katniss.
"Rather spoiling me," I greet Effie too, in the perfect 'Capitol style', "lots of opportunities."
"I figured," Haymitch says wrapping his arms around me.
"Now," I say holding my arms open, theatrically, "let's take you to your apartments."
I start walking towards the elevator, heading to the attic, again.
------------
Once inside we start to have lunch, the atmosphere is quite tense before Effie breaks the silence.
"All right," she starts, clearing her throat, "before we begin, I've had a thought."
"You don't say?" Haymitch jokes, unimpressed.
"Be nice," I tell him, throwing a balled-up napkin at him.
"Katniss has her gold Mockingjay pin. I have my hair. I'm going to get you three something gold." She declares, as if it were something obvious.
Haymitch looks at both me and Peeta, confused, before asking why.
"A token." Effie explains, "Show them we are a team. And they can't just..." she starts getting emotional and Katniss takes her hands.
"Thank you." She tells her, meaning it.
Effie might be too theatrical sometimes, but she's so much more than that, I'm grateful I got to know this side of her. I take her hand too.
"That's really sweet, Effie." I smile at her, "and... thank you for including me."
I notice both Peeta and Katniss sharing a look as if I said something unbelievable, but I ignore it.
Not the time.
"Now..." Effie composes herself, "everything will be different, because it's a Quarter Quell. The Capitol has spared no expense. A new training centre. New Tribute living quarters. And of course, a very special arena."
I tense at that, I took part in that...
"But this year you'll be facing other Victors." I step in, " all Capitol favourites. Smart, cunning, skilled... angry. And they all know one another. You two are the outsiders."
" I want you guys to forget everything you think you know about the Games. Last year was child's play." Haymitch starts explaining, he's the best to mentor them about a Quarter Quell, "this year, you're dealing with all experienced killers."
"All right," Peeta speaks up, "what does it mean for us?"
"Allies." I tell him, "you'll be needing allies."
"Okay. I think that if..." Peeta's reply is quickly interrupted.
"You're not the problem." I say and, I don't have to say anything more, Haymitch is already pointing at Katniss.
"No." She sternly says.
"A little help, Haymitch?" I ask him.
"Look, you're starting at a disadvantage. Most of these people have been friends for years."
"That just puts us higher on their killing list." She replies, annoyed.
I roll my eyes, she needs to do her part.
"Do it your own way, but I know these people. You go it alone, their first move is gonna be to hunt you down." Haymitch keeps explaining, patiently, "both of you."
"Katniss, come on," Peeta's sweet tone seems to convince her... a tiny bit.
She sighs deeply, which usually mean she's gonna listen, even though she doesn't agree.
"How could any of us even trust each other?" She then asks.
"It's not about trust. It's about staying alive," he states.
Peeta and Katniss look at each other and finally Katniss nod her head.
"Great!" I cheer, "time for some brainstorming, shall we?" And I stand up walking to the living room.
They soon follow and Haymitch turns the TV on, so they can see who the other Victors are, and who might seem like a good ally.
"Cashmere and Gloss. Brother and sister. District one. They one back-to-back Games. Capitol favourites. Lots of sponsors." He shows them the siblings.
"They will be lethal." I add and Haymitch nods, strongly agreeing.
"And the other half of the Career Pack, Brutus and Enobaria."
"What's with her teeth?" Of course, Katniss asks about the teeth.
"She... well... she had them filed into fangs..." I respond, "so she could... rip people's throat out better."
"She's committed. I'll give her that." Peeta comments, I can sense some tension in him... which is very understandable.
"Wiress and Beetee," Haymitch keeps on presenting the tributes, "not fighters, but brilliant."
"Very brilliant," I agree.
"And weird." He adds, earning a glare from me, "real texh-savvy. He won his Games by electrocuting six tributes at once." He changes the scene again, "the Morphlings. Masters of camouflage. Basically, won their Games by hiding until everyone was dead. Self-medicating ever since. Which I applaud. Not a threat."
We arrive at District 4 reaping.
"Finnick Odair, right?" Katniss asks.
Haymitch looks at me, silently telling me to explain this one myself, there's a hint of a smirk on his face that makes me roll my eyes for, what feels like, the millionth time today.
"Yep. The one and only." I starts, "he won his Games at 14. He's the youngest Victor ever... of course modesty is his peculiarity." I joke.
"You're kidding."
"Kinda," I chuckle, "he's very confident. Very. But... he's the Capitol's darling. They all love him here." Unfortunately, I want to add. "He's smart, he's skilled at combat, especially... especially in water."
"What about weaknesses?" Peeta asks, interested.
"Only one..." I sigh, deeply, "Mags. She... she volunteer for Annie. Mags was his mentor, the year that I was assigned to 4, she raised him, basically. He will try to protect her, even though it would expose him."
"A guy like that has to know she's not gonna make it," Katniss shakes her head, unconvinced, Haymitch looks at me knowingly, "I bet when it really comes down to it, he won't protect her."
I really want to hit her right now, but I know it's not her fault, she thinks this because it's what the Capitol wanted everyone else to think. That's what he had to pretend to be.
"Well... she's an amazing woman, Katniss, I... I just hope that... if... w-when she goes, she goes quickly." I stutter out. It took everything in me to say that... I want to hope we will rescue everyone before that happens... I really do.
I space out as Haymitch goes on explaining and introducing the other tributes.
I can feel his eyes on me every now and then, but I stopped pay attention minutes ago now.
Mags is the mother I never had... if there is one person who deserves to see a free Panem, it's her.
---------‐---
I was walking on the train heading to the restaurant car where I found an old lady sitting there, drinking a cup of tea.
"Hi..." I shyly said.
"Oh hello, dear." She greeted me with such a kind smile, I felt so much better and less nervous.
"I'm... I'm Y/n." I started to introduce myself, but her hand gently taking mine stopped me.
"I know, dear. I'm Mags." Another kind smile, "you're here to assist me, right?"
"Yeah." My hands were getting sweaty... I was so nervous.
"Hey, no need to worry about it. We can do it." She reassured me.
"I hope so..." I muttered under my breath.
She sighed and offer a seat to me, I took it and stared at the cups on the table.
"I watched you last year," her voice was soft as she spoke, "you were assigned to... what district?"
"5"
"But you were helping the little one from 11, right?" She asked.
I snapped my head to her, eyes wide open.
"Please, don't worry about it. I never told anyone." She assured me, handing me a warm cup, "I just meant that I saw you're not like the rest of them, my dear. You care."
"My tributes didn't want to listen, they were older than me and thought I was just a spy... which is understandable." I sadly kept my head low. "That boy from 11 was my age and... he was having trouble with some essential survival techniques."
"He got pretty far thanks to those." She tried to make me feel better.
"Not far enough," I bitterly replied.
"I'm sorry." I let her take my hand again, "it's not a consolation, I know, trust me, but... I have a feeling we can do it."
"They won't trust me," I told her, referring to the tributes from 4.
"Not at first... and most likely not the girl... but the boy, he seems to be more open to suggestions." She explained.
"I'm not sure he would accept suggestions from me."
"He's a smart one. Same age as you. Just be yourself and he will trust you." She smiled.
I considered her for a moment before nodding. Hope growing a little more.
The door of the car opening had my head turning immediately.
"My dear Y/n," Mags stood up and walked towards the boy entering, "this is Finnick Odair. Finnick, this is Y/n."
--------------
"Are you okay?" Haymitch's voice snaps me out of my thoughts.
"Uh? Yeah... yeah, sorry, I zoned out." I apologise.
"I noticed." He sits with me.
"Where are they?" I ask, noticing no one else was in sight.
"Getting ready for the parade." He answers.
"Right... I better get going too. I have to check everyone is ready..." I tiredly sigh as I stand up, but Haymitch softly pulls me back down.
"If you take a few minutes it won't be a tragedy." He tells me, "what's going on in that head of yours?"
"Nothing... I just started to think about Mags." I whisper, afraid someone might hear.
"Plutarch gave you the speech?" He asks and I nod, "I'm really sorry, Y/n."
"It's okay... I mean, it's not, but I think it was inevitable... she would've never let anyone else go, not if she had any say in it." I tell him, "she's strong." I see him starting to speak but I beat him to it, "I know better than to keep my hopes up, trust me, I know."
He just sighs and wrap one reassuring arms around my shoulder.
"I really better get going now, gotta check on those outfits." I stand up.
"You do that, sweetheart." Haymitch smiles at me and I walk to the elevator.
--------------
I walk out of the elevator heading to where the parade is about to begin and I instantly loom for someone.
I spot immediately Peeta talking to Cinna, who's probably refining last minutes details.
"Hello." I greet once I'm close enough, Cinna turns around giving me a small smile and a hug. "You look good, mr Mellark."
"Only with his help it's possible." Peeta, humble as usual, replies pointing at Cinna.
"I'm not a magician, I can make people look good if they're worthy." Cinna shakes his head, waving off the compliment.
"I couldn't agree more." I sigh, "so, are you lot ready? Where's Katniss?"
"She's should be here soon, her dress is a little more complicated than Peeta's." Cinna answers, "and, since you're here, I was thinking about them not doing anything out there."
"What do you mean?" I ask.
"I mean, no waving, no smiling, nothing of sort. Act like they're above them. What do you think?" He explains, genuinely interested in my opinion.
"I think it's perfect." I smile and he return it.
"Oh, there she is." Peeta points behind us, I turn seeing Katniss talking to Finnick, who's a lot close. I hope he's not putting up his flirting persona, I don't think Katniss would trust him so easily then.
Peeta excuses himself to join her, just as Finnick walks away... spotting me.
"Snow asked..." Cinna gently nudges my arm and lowers his voice, "or better, ordered me to make her wear a wedding dress for the interview."
"Of course..." I roll my eyes. "You good with that?
"Oh yeah...I got a great idea for it." He says, I look into his eyes seeing determination so I don't ask more questions.
"Better get them ready to go, it's almost time." I tell him.
Cinna walks to Katniss and Peeta and I turn to check if someone else needs a hand with something or needs advice, unlikely, but never say never.
I see Mags petting a horse so I decide to go to her.
As soon as she sees me her smile grows ten times, warming my heart.
"You look very beautiful," I tell her, once we're close enough I hug her, "I'm so sorry." I whisper into her ear.
She pulls away gently, looking at me with that kind smile that always makes me feel better. She caresses my cheek with her hand, reassuringly, nodding her head to tell me that it's alright.
I nod too, taking a deep breath.
"Do you think I look presentable?" A very familiar voice says from behind me.
I look at Mags, rolling my eyes, glad I made her laugh a little.
I turn around, fully admir... noticing his naked chest and the golden fish net tied at his... oh shit.
"My eyes are up here, sweetheart." He smirks and I just turn my head away, shaking it as I try to pull myself together.
"Did your stylists finished the fabric?" I finally say, "I could've ordered some, if they told me."
"Of course," he smiles and walk closer to me, leaning down to whisper into my ear, "just between us... I'm wearing it just for you."
My head snaps to him, our faces mere inches apart. I notice his eyes looking down to my lips, I instantly put some distance walking up to district 3.
"And here I thought you would never come to say hi," Beetee waves.
"Did you lose all hope in me? And here I thought you were the smart one." I tease back.
"It's a pity seeing each other here, under these circumstances." Wiress shakes my hand.
"I know. I wish it were different..." I look down, sad and ashamed too, Beetee softly touches my arm. I look up at him noticing him mouthing something on the line of 'it's gonna be fine' so I smile at him. "Well, don't you two look great?"
I compliment them, just before the announcer warned us of the beginning.
I wave them goodbye for now and head back, watching every district ride out there.
When it's Finnick's turn he turns to me and winks at me, earning a big eye roll. When it's finally District 12 turn as they pass by I nod my head, encouraging them. I see them looking st each other and straighten their back proudly.
I walk towards the end of the parade, where they should get off the chariots and head back to the elevators, and I wait.
I look at them in the distance, taking deep breaths to calm my nerves.
All of a sudden I feel someone watching me from behind.
"You did a pretty good job, my sweetness." His voice makes me wince.
I turn around, showing the usual fake smile I show to everyone in the Capitol, pretending to be happy to see him.
"Cal... hi." I say, holding back from walking away as he nears, "what are you doing here?"
"I missed you. I didn't scare you, didn't I?" He says with a smile, that clearly shows he's proud he did.
"Of course, not. I was just thinking." I tell him sweetly.
"What about?" He ask, curious.
"Well, I have a lot to do these days and when they're back I'll have to make sure everything is organised." I tell him. "And also, taking part in the making of the Games... Plutarch asked me to write down some ideas."
This is probably the only time I'm glad I have this job, if I didn't, Cal would've kept me basically locked up, in his apartment. 'All to himself'... the thought makes me shiver.
"Would you share them with me?" He whispers.
"I can't ruin the fun, can I?" I say back.
"Aahh... you're killing me, babe." He shakes his head chuckling.
If only...
"No special treatment, Cal." I smile, feeling uneasy from the way he's looking at me.
In that moment, thankfully, I hear the parade is ending, which means everybody is about to get back.
"Such a diligent girl." He moves his hand to take mine. I let out a nervous laugh and a 'thanks', and finally, one district at a time, they're back.
I lock eyes with some of the Tributes, who noticing Cal with me, tense and give me sympathetic smile.
Then Finnick's back.
As soon as he sees me, he can't keep up the fake smile and his expression darkens.
"Well... I'm sorry, but I have to go now. I'll see you." I say, starting to turn around, but his hand grabs my arm. Rather harshly, which makes my eyes widen at that.
"We hardly see each other these days... I miss you." He looms over me, a dark look in his eyes.
"Well... uh..." I clear my throat, looking at the tributes still arriving, "I have a job to.. to do."
I see Mags and Finnick, she has a hand on his arm, to stop him from coming here.
"Good thing that when we're married you won't need to work, then." He tells me directly into my ear, "I would be able to have you any day I want."
"Wouldn't that be a dream..?" I choke out, my throat tightens. I still look at Finnick, more to check he doesn't intervenes than anything.
"There you are!" We both look at the source of the sound, Johanna.
I let out a sigh of relief as she walks closer.
"I was looking for you." She says, "they told me to ask you for the schedule."
"Yes... yes! I got it." I tell her.
Johanna pretends to notice Cal just now and extends her hand towards him.
"Oh hey there! You must be the lucky one, uh?" Johanna greets him.
Cal looks at her sceptically before shaking her hand.
"Yes, that's me."
"So nice to finally meet you, she talks about you all the time!" Johanna's (fake) cheery personality and flattery seem to work on Cal, who smiles smugly, "you don't mind if I steal her, do you?"
Before Cal could answer, she pulls me to her linking arms and walks away.
"God, he looks so annoying." She groans.
"He is... he is." I sigh, relieved.
"I thought about stepping in before Finnick over there could rip his eyes out," she teases. "So... how are the lovebirds?"
"They're completely in love." I tell her, she nods smiling knowingly.
I spot them talking with district 11 tributes, I wave at Haymitch, letting him know I'll be up in a second.
"Ugh... he still looking this way," Johanna complains getting in front of me, "is he always like this?"
"Even worse." I roll my eyes.
"Alright," she take the end of her dress in her hands showing it to me, "Plutarch told me."
I understand now what she's doing with her dress, she's pretending to show it to me, so it looks like we're talking about the dress.
"I know," I say touching the fabric, pretending to check it out, "you're sure about doing this?"
"Of course I am," she now turns to 'make me see her back', "never been more sure."
"I'm just sorry," I tell her, motioning for her to turn back around.
"No need too," she smiles, an emotionless smile, "oh he's gone.. finally."
"Thanks for saving me," I tell her.
"Anytime," she says, she turns her head towards the elevator, "well... I'll go introduce myself."
"Be nice." I tell her, she winks at me and walks away to the elevator with Katniss, Peeta and Haymitch.
I go over the last details, seeing the horses are attended to, the chariots are about to be put away, everything seems fine.
I then walk to the elevator myself, I lean against the elevator's wall as soon as I enter.
Before the doors can close, someone rushes in, I look up finding myself face to face with Finnick.
Being in a confined space with a shirtless Finnick is...
"Hi, my love."
Shit.
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hungergamesheadcanons · 5 months
Text
Big Brother, Best Friend
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"Hey, can I borrow your sister?"
Katniss looked up from where she was sat, half surprised to see Finnick stood in front of her. She didn't know why she was - logically she knew he'd be down there in the bunker with the rest of them, sheltering from the bombs Peeta had warned her about - but regardless, it stumped her.
"Why do you need Prim?"
"This light is flickering and it's driving me insane," he joked, but Katniss could see the slight tremble in his hands. Despite his light tone, he was serious. "I managed to get a bulb off Beetee but I can't actually reach the damn thing. All the power's already off, in case you couldn't tell, I just need someone to reach it without bumping their head."
So she looked at her little sister, who just looked back. "Well? Wanna help?"
"Come on kid," Finnick knelt on the ground before Gale could offer to lift Prim instead, turning to her as she hesitated and raising an eyebrow. "I'm sorry, do you think I get on my knees for just anyone?"
The comment got a surprised giggle out of Prim, and even Katniss couldn't help but snort. "Wasn't that your whole shtick in the Capitol?"
"Not by choice," Finnick muttered, chuckling bitterly, "I prefer this version, don't you?" And Katniss would respond, but Prim's legs were on his shoulders, and he was standing up, and Prim was holding the replacement bulb like it was a bomb.
It was actually rather comical.
"Ok, now reach up-" Finnick half instructed, and Katniss watched as Prim did so, ready to catch her should something happen. "You got it? Awesome! Ok, unscrew it!"
"It won't move!" Prim complained.
"Lefty loosey, righty tighty!" Finnick's explanation made her laugh, but she managed to get the bulb out. She passed it to the man beneath her, who just tossed it gently to the ground, before looking up.
"Is it in?"
"Yeah!"
"WHOO!" Finnick's yell caught all of them off guard, the man seeming so genuinely elated that it almost made them forget the bombs for a minute. "Thank you kid! Let's go tell Beetee to put the power back on!" And Finnick started running, and Prim was yelling but laughing at the same time, and Katniss just shook her head fondly.
"You're just gonna let him run off with her?" Gale was looking at her like she was an alien.
"Yeah. It's Finnick." She said, as if that explained everything, "I trust him."
"I know you trust him," the implied 'to an extent' made Katniss frown, "but do you trust him with her?"
And suddenly it all made sense.
"I do." She said firmly, "I don't know exactly why he did what he did in the Capitol, but I can tell that it wasn't his own choice. So yes, I trust him with Prim. I trust him with my life. He's one of my best friends."
And maybe Gale would fight back, maybe he would make some cutting remarks against Finnick, but Finnick was back with a flushed and laughing Prim still on his shoulders, his own face red with exertion and a large grin spread across his cheeks.
"The powers back on!" He cheered, "Turn the lights on, Prim! Turn the lights on!"
And she did, warm yellow lighting flooding the room without a hint of a flicker, and Finnick actually jumped, causing Prim to squeal and grab his head tightly.
"YES!" He yelled, "Katniss I'm taking your sister, she's mine now. She's too awesome to be related to you."
"Not that I'm disagreeing," Katniss smirked, "but I think you should probably put her down now."
"Should I?" Finnick tilted his head, grinning mischievously. "Maybe I should just-" And he bent back, causing Prim to shriek with laughter and grab him again.
"FINNICK!" She yelped, and Finnick shook with silent laughter.
"Sorry did you say lower?"
"NO!" And Prim's hair brushed the floor as Finnick bent as far back as he could, before he burst out laughing, standing upright and kneeling on the floor again.
"Fine fine, here, be careful getting off," He chuckled, helping Prim get off his shoulders safely. Katniss laughed as Prim sat beside her, breathing heavily from a combination of laughter and exertion, before the two of them burst into giggles as Finnick dramatically flopped on the floor.
"I can finally sleeeeeeep," he groaned, rolling on his back. "That has been bugging me for HOURS."
"All you needed was a Prim."
"Indeed." He laughed, before a big yawn seemed to catch him off guard. "Ugh. I'm sleeping here."
"On the floor?" Katniss asked.
"Inviting me into your bed, Katniss?" Finnick opened one eye, big grin betraying his teasing words. "Tut tut, with your mother there and everything?"
Katniss flung a pillow at him as she laughed, causing him to 'oof' in surprise and laugh himself. She got off the bed, picking up the pillow she threw and started hitting him with it.
"AH! Wait! WAIT!" Finnick yelped, rolling underneath her even as he cackled. "THIS IS BULLYING!"
"Help me, Prim!" Katniss grinned, and it didn't take long before Finnick was cowering under a combined Everdeen assault.
"You win!" He finally submitted, and the two girls dragged up the giggling but clearly exhausted man, who stumbled as he stood.
"Come on," Katniss pushed him into her bed, ignoring Gale's scathing glance. "Sleep, you look half dead."
"What about you?" Finnick asked, even as he curled under the cover, and Katniss grimaced.
"I'll take first watch," she eventually answered, and Finnick seemed to know exactly what she meant, as he fished around in his pocket before handing her a length of rope.
"You better show me how good your knots are getting when I wake up," He mumbled into a pillow, and Katniss nodded her head.
"I will," She grinned a little, "I've had a good teacher, after all."
Finnick dug around in his pockets, handing her another one.
"Teach the kid," he mumbled, "it's always helpful."
And he was out, slumbering peacefully in the Everdeen's bunk as bombs rained from above. Katniss dutifully took her sister through some of the knots she had been taught, watching her try to recreate them with varied success. It caught them both off guard when two hands came up to cradle Prim's, and a sleepy chuckle caused them to turn.
"You gotta pull this part under," Finnick's sleep-laden voice said, using his fingers to point it out. "This bit, and pull it under here." And she did so, and Finnick patted her head with a grin, telling her that she did a good job. Then he unknotted the rope, telling her to show him what she'd learned, and Prim did so with a blinding smile.
"You and teaching people knots," Katniss rolled her eyes.
"You and sucking at tying knots," he immediately snarked back.
"Excuse me, I am great at tying knots!"
"Not as good as me."
"Just because you're a fisherman-"
"I never actually got out on a fishing vessel-"
"JUST BECAUSE YOU WERE A FISHERMAN-"
The two bickered even as Finnick gently took Prim through the steps of a dropper loop knot, both Katniss and her mother watching with fond eyes as Prim focused on getting it right. And when she held it up, a little clumsily knotted but successful nonetheless, and Finnick held up one hand for a high five and was surprised with a hug, Katniss knew that he was accepted into their family unit.
No matter what Gale had to say about it, Prim had adopted Finnick as her big brother, and Katniss didn't mind to say the least.
Even if he acted younger than Katniss, sometimes, but that was ok.
He could be Katniss's best friend.
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milflewis · 8 months
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Niamh, HG AU, I so desperately want everyone's backstory here. The Michael and Lewis bit is honestly what completely did it for me, punched me in the gut. God. And then -- Mick!!! Hello! Sobbing
Let's start with Seb being a mentor tho bc...yes. He would be and the hope, the emotional investment... I can't bear it, actually. With Lewis, the clients...skin crawling, also, the trident, the secrets instead of money....you're not planning on giving him the same ending as Finnick, right, because, don't.
Sewis tho, how did they happen. What is their story. Also. How did they win their games. And! Does Lewis get reaped again during the Quarter Quell. Am I getting this right. The angst, holy fuck
PIERRE AS KATNISS AND YUKI AS PEETA why is this so PERFECT. The scene with the berries. I haven't seen this scene in years and suddenly I was right back. You're mine now!!??? Help help help. I actually felt like kicking my feet when you wrote Pierre covering a quick grin right after their victory was announced. He's clever!!! Your spin on this scene...I want more of these two right now, I'm obsessed
ok so this got reallllly long lol sorry. i'm just so!!!!!! about this au
at his heart sebastian is a teacher. a mentor. every year he tries and every year he fails. he can never be enough bc no one person is enough to change The Games. he keeps trying anyway.
lewis is. finnick adjacent ahsjdaj. i do Not plan to kill him off lmao dw!!! but i am basing a lot of his story around finnick's. and sewis. ok. think old friends. think an ally where you were once alone. think 'Hamilton has found a friend'.
lewis was fourteen when he was Reaped. fourteen and small and curls down around his ears and skinny ankles. the camera zoomed in on his brother's teary eyes. hamilton had already lost a sister to the games five years ago. he is frowning and quiet and solemn. he speaks very little and chitchat does not come naturally to him. he is a little too wild for comfort. his stylist shaves him near bald and makes his cheeks rosy and tells him to speak as soft as he can. flutter those long lashes. bono, it turns out, is lewis's saving grace bc his mentor, fernando alonso, doesn't look at him after lewis tells him he's washed and old and useless when fernando laughs at lewis saying he's going to win this year. lewis is fourteen and small and the Capitol's Darling when he spears five different tributes in the stomach with a makeshift trident. he has been swimming since he was three. hauling in fishing nets for a little under a decade. those who do not work in district four do not eat. he is the youngest victor ever and michael schumacher tilts his glass at him during the celebrations. he tells lewis to do as they ask, not matter the price. lewis does not listen. his family pays for it.
three years later, sebastian is Reaped, and he's small and fourteen and has small hands and a wide smile. they leave his curls. he laughs and he charms and he plays the demure shy shining golden boy card. sebastian has always been very good at playing this game. he can't stop smiling. he avoids killing until the very end, hiding out and stealing from other tributes. he paints his face and arms and legs and runs through the trees. he kills the last two tributes with his bare hands. michael is his mentor. sebastian does what they ask. he listens.
michael is the one to introduce them, tipsy and grinning and bright eyed. he waits two years until sebastian is sixteen and of age and then leaves. lewis never talks to seb about it. the walls have ears.
it is not until seven years after lewis's games, four years of sebastian talking at lewis, that valtteri bottas is reaped and he's just another face in a series of deaths and he's not even from lewis's district so what does lewis care but valtteri comes up to him in the capitol, a bruise on his cheek, eyes so fucking blue, and says, i want you. lewis laughs in his face, half drunk. your secrets don't interest me. and valtteri rolls his eyes. no. no, i want you to be my mentor. lewis laughs again. no, you don't. valtteri blinks at him, unmoving, hand over the lift's buttons so lewis can't get out. yes, i do. i remember you. in the games. i want you to teach me to do what you do. i need you to. and so lewis does. he helps him and valtteri survives. when sebastian congratulates him, it's the first time he ever sees lewis smile.
they talk more after that. fernando and lewis switch being mentor year to year. sebastian is district twelve's only victor so he never stops. sometimes when they're both in the Capitol, lewis finds sebastian already tucked into lewis's bed in his apartment. he always has lewis's tea, hot and waiting, in a thermos on the kitchen counter. sometimes he washes lewis's hair and body for him after nights when lewis is working.
lewis does get reaped during the quarter quell and he is soooo annoying to pierre who is Furious over this beautiful cocky smiling man. sebastian is the one to hold him when pierre finds out they left yuki behind in the arena but it is lewis who teaches him how to get up in the mornings despite it all.
(there is a coin tucked into the inside of lewis's shoe during the quarter quell. it is the same one sebastian had around his neck during his games. sebastian holds it so tightly it digs an imprint into his palm when he waits for lewis to wake up on their flight to district thirteen.)
pierre is Nothing if not possessive and he has very little people he counts as his own - charles and alex - and now yuki. maybe sebastian. there are his and he is theirs. fuck the rest of them.
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heavensbeehall · 4 months
Text
"Catching Fire", Chapter 14
Part 2: The Quell
Chapter 14: Katniss knows she won't write goodbye letters to her family. Effie has an idea. They watch the recap. Katniss has nighmares so Peeta and she watch the tape of Haymitch's games. Haymitch says his trick with the force field was almost as bad as Katniss with the berries.
Thoughts:
-- A lot of faves first appear in this chapter. I am excite.
-- The Victor of the 25th Hunger Games is not in the lot Effie sent. Peeta thinks "they must be dead." I suppose the Victor could've just had cancer or drinked themselves to death. I immediately suspected foul play though. I always assume the Capitol is up to something.
-- I might have to put my thoughts on Haymitch's games in a separate post. SO MUCH HAPPENING.
Quotes:
"I had it especially done to match Katniss' pin. I was thinking we might get you a golden ankle band and maybe find Haymitch a gold bracelet or something so we could all look like a team."
Effie expresses herself with fashion, guys. She had her hair done to match Katniss' pin before the Reaping to show her solidarity. IDK why this makes me want to cry. It's not rebellion really. It's more like Effie is like one of those sportsball fans who paints themself in their team's colors. Except she's not just rooting for 12 to win some trophy, but to live.
If he were the tribute, he would have owed Peeta nothing and could be as drunk as he liked. Now it's going to take all he's got to keep Peeta alive in an arena full of his old friends, and he'll probably fail.
I think we're all lucky Haymitch wasn't the tribute in that case. Being hungover in the clock arena sounds miserable (so much lightning and noise!) Although maybe if Haymitch and Katniss had been the tributes they would've just jumped off their podiums and high-fived each other before drowning themselves in the sea?
In the history of the Games, there have been seventy-five victors. Fifty-nine are still alive.
33 victors are NOT reaped but killed between now and the end of Mockingjay. More than die in the Arena. You actually had a better shot if you volunteered. (Congrats, Enobaria.)
Effie makes hushed, distressed comments like "Oh, not Cecilia" and "Well, Chaff never could stay out of a fight.""
I understand the "not Cecilia comment" since we are later told that she has three small children. Did Chaff volunteer? Or is it just he got reaped so "oh well he could never stay out of a fight"?
I try to make some mental record of the other tributes, but like last year, only a few really stick in my head. There's the classically beautiful brother and sister from District 1 who were victors in consecutive years when I was little. Brutus, a volunteer from District 2, who must be at least forty and apparently can't wait to get back in the arena. Finnick, the handsome bronze-haired guy from District 4 who was crowned ten years ago at the age of fourteen. A hysterical young woman with flowing brown hair is also called from 4, but she's quickly replaced by a volunteer, an eighty-year-old woman who needs a cane to walk to the stage. Then there's Johanna Mason, the only living female victor from 7, who won a few years back by pretending she was a weakling. The woman from 8 who Effie calls Cecelia, who looks about thirty, has to detach herself from the three kids who run up to cling to her. Chaff, a man from 11 who I know to be one of Haymitch's particular friends, is also in.
First appearance of my beloved Mags! Also I'd like to see the footage of Johanna rolling her eyes as they brought out the reaping bowl with just her name in it. It also means Johanna has known for months that she is going back to the Arena. I wonder how she handled it compared to Katniss?
After the anthem, they show President Snow drawing the envelope for the second Quarter Quell. He looks younger but just as repellent.
So Snow definitely moved up from Gamemaker to President by 50. But Finnick says he was a "young man" when he rose to power so I am thinking he became President around 25. Anyone else have thoughts on this?
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jewelledfoxes · 7 months
Text
Twenty Questions for Fic Writers
Thanks @medusasfinalgirl for tagging me!!
1. How many works do you have on AO3? 16 atm! (1 anonymous) Which is wild to me. English was my least favourite subject in school.
2. What's your total AO3 word count? 198,609 which, again, absolutely wild.
3. What fandoms do you write for? At the minute, just stranger things. But my early fics were Game of Thrones and Bridgerton.
4. What are your top 5 fics by kudos? I'm just going off ST fics so:
(Anything You) Want - friends to lovers mutual pining Nice (Just Ain't My Type) - silly celebrity rivals au (I Don't Have To Tell You But) You're The Only One - AYW college sequel This Be The Verse - on a theme of parenthood Stay - AYW Eddie POV
I only consider 2 of these to actually be amongst my "best" fics tho.
5. Do you respond to comments? Why or why not? Yes! I definitely try my best to respond to everything as quickly as possible. I feel very honoured that there are people out there who take time out of their day to let me know they enjoyed. Makes my day every single time!!
6. What is a fic you wrote with the angstiest ending? Oooh okay, Haunt Me, Then! (kinktober spectrophilia fic) for now, but it's very possible that She's Got A Boyfriend Anyway (classic cheating-on-Jason fic) might beat it when I get round to finishing it.
7. What's the fic you wrote with the happiest ending? I don't know if any of my fics have particularly strong happy endings, but off the top of my head it's got to be This Be The Verse.
8. Do you get hate on fics? Defo not on hellcheer ones! Everyone's so nice here!!! <3 My very first fic got SO MUCH hate on it but that's because I wrote it when I was 17 and it WAS terrible.
9. Do you write smut? If so, what kind? Really never thought I would, but more of my fics have smut in them than not these days lol. Idk, something about hellcheer just really made me go ...these two should be going at it.
10. Do you write crossovers? What's the craziest one you've written? I don't, and I'd be very surprised if I ever do tbh.
11. Have you ever had a fic stolen? Nope!
12. Have you ever had a fic translated? Nope again!
13. Have you ever co-written a fic before? I haven't, and I'm not really sure I can ever imagine myself co-writing.
14. What's your all-time favorite ship? I mean, I've not written 13 fics for any ship other than hellcheer so that's something. In terms of longevity, Katniss/Peeta and Finnick/Annie still have the same effect on me as they did when I first read the book at like 13 years old.
15. What's a wip you want to finish, but doubt you ever will? What a stressful question! I doubt I'll finish off Hard to Forgive (Hard to Forget) because it would be one of those proper multi-chapters (40k words ish by my estimates) and I just don't think I could do it.
16. What are your writing strengths? Hmm I'm not sure. I used to be quite good at setting a scene but I think I'm losing that a little. If I'm honest, recently I've been really proud of the sheer volume of what I've been writing and my willingness to venture out of my comfort zone.
17. What are your writing weaknesses? God, where to start. Weak dialogue, my repetitive writing style, difficulty writing endings, complete inability to do anything concisely. But I genuinely feel like I'm slowly improving bit by bit!
18. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language for a fic? I did French and Spanish in school, French to a slightly higher level than Spanish, so I'd feel comfortable including either of those at a school level (like them trying out saying things like "at the weekend I like to go to the park" and "I have two brothers and no sisters" in a class) but wouldn't want to risk anything more complex!
19. First fandom you wrote for? The Hunger Games. I never posted it anywhere, but I still have my old drafts for fics that I look back on every now and again just to see how far I've come!
20. Favorite fic you've written? So hard to choose! This Be The Verse because it felt so immensely personal to write or Cherry (sapphic hellcheer) because it was a long time coming. Both are eclipsed by a soon-to-be-uploaded kinktober foot fic that I will reveal is called Heart and Sole (and yes it's as dumb and silly as the title implies)!
Okay that was fun! I'm not 100% sure on who I follow writes but I'm p sure @gingertumericlemon, @bibiche007 and @achilleanenjolras all do, so would love to hear your responses if you fancy it!
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elyxirshifting · 11 months
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Hunger Games DR
Basically in this DR I'm gonna be the youngest victor of the Hunger Games ever (at age 12, I decided this to purely one up Finnick, I am that petty), obvious warnings for death being mentioned and mentions of basically any topics mentioned in the books as I'm shifting to a book accurate version of the universe.
Basic information
Name: Elyxir Callisto Fay (Ely, Elyx)
Birthday: 09/17/59 (for context the first year of the hunger games is year 1, this is a result of me being lazy as shit and not wanting to work out an appropriate time in the future, so using our time it's probably along the lines of 09/17/2359 or something)
Sexuality: Lesbian
Pronouns: They/she
Age when I first shift: 9 (yes there is a reason)
Home District: District 1
Faceclaim: I look mostly like myself in this reality except my hair is a touch lighter and is longer and slightly wavy plus blue eyes
Important people in my DR (friends, family, mentors):
Family: [Mother’s Name]
Citrine Fay
[Mother’s Age]
44
[Mother’s Occupation]
Perfumer
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[Father’s Name]
Brilliance Fay
[Father’s Age]
44
[Father’s Occupation]
Craftsperson
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[Sister’s Name]
Gallica Fay (Alli)
[Sister’s Age]
15
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[Brother’s Name]
Luncan Fay (Lun)
[Brother’s Age]
14
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[Brother’s Name]
Secret Fay (Ret)
[Brother’s Age]
13
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[Sister’s Name]
Selenite Fay (Leni)
[Sister’s Age]
12
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[Sister’s Name]
Macaroon Fay (Carrie)
[Sister’s Age]
11
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[Brother’s Name]
Velvet Fay (Vel)
[Brother’s Age]
10
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[Sister’s Name]
Vivid Fay (Vivi)
[Sister’s Age]
10
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All of my siblings also attend the training academy
Friends: Glimmer, her birthday is 7/27/58 (I don't have an image to show what she looks like in my mind as I'm going for how I imagined her in the books cause I thought she'd be cool and I'm super gay, she doens't die in her games either, cause she's the solo winner cause I decided Peeta will win the 73rd and then the 75th quell twist is the same but cause of rules Katniss ends up in the 75th but I have her role as mockingjay)
I also befriend Johanna and Finnick after my games, again going for book accuracy, I don't have the energy to search for a picture
Mentors:
Cashmere and Gloss. They're Glimmer's cousins in my DR, Cashmere won her games at 15 and Gloss won his at 16. I actually found pictures that more or less look like I pictured them so that's good.
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My games:
My games are the 72nd Hunger Games, the other tributes in the game are as followed
Prince, 17, D1
Calista, 17, D2
Orion, 18, D2
Chip, 15, D3
Dell, 16, D3
Brooke, 15, D4
Dylan, 17, D4
Lunar, 16, D5
Dean, 15, D5
Elaine, 13, D6
Aaron, 12, D6
Hazel, 18, D7
Jude, 13, D7
Camisole, 16, D8
Sterling, 14, D8
Adalina, 15, D9
Herman, 18, D9
Bessie, 17, D10
Kobe, 17, D10
Autumn, 18, D11
Fraser, 16, D11
Ivy, 18, D12
Jett, 16, D12
I won't write every small detail of my games as there's a lot but I'll add some pictures that'll look like parts of the arena
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The arena is like a magical otherworld, there are unicorns in the arena, they attack anyone that appears to be a threat to them, so typically older tributes.
Before all of that though, basically I tested into the academy early and so I'd been at the academy since I was like 5 so I was already planning to volunteer that year but it turns out Glimmer was reaped so I had an even better reason which helped play into my character I put on for the games, confident that I'll do really well for someone my age not that I'd necessarily win but that I'd be able to hold my own, someone that would do anything to protect people she cares about, capitol audiences really loved that.
Glimmer and I are the district 1 tributes that get sent into the Quater Quell, they change the rules even further to allow for two previous victors of the same gender to be chosen for the quell.
I'll probably add more stuff to this anyway
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hilarychuff · 2 years
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ok just for the heck of it some sansa/jonsa au casting ideas that are very much up for discussion bc i haven’t figured them out enough on my own to hoard privately to make into one of my au graphics or i just probably never will make it into an au graphic but think it’s a fun idea
just dumping A BUNCH of them under the break (like basically everyone except those i am hoarding for later/have more concrete ideas about that i might actually execute in some way) enjoy this peek into my google docs xoxoxox
13 going on 30 Jenna - sansa Matty - jon  Cat - margaery???? cersei???
Panic Heather - sansa (alayne) Lilly - robin Ray - jon Bishop - harry Natalie - myranda Dodge -
OR
Panic Heather - arya Ray - gendry? Bishop - gendry?   Natalie - sansa Dodge - jon Dodge’s sister - bran
Hocus pocus au max - jon Allison - sansa Dani - arya Thackery binx - aegon? (or brandon?) Emily binx - rhaenys? (or lyanna?) Winifred sanderson - cersei Mary sanderson - tyrion??? Lmao Sarah sanderson - jaime lmao
Big little lies Daenerys is Renata (or is Cersei Renata?? Would leave space for dany to be celeste) Margaery is Madeline Jeyne is Celeste?? Daenerys is Celeste?? Sansa is Jane?? Arya is bonnie??????
Timeless Sansa is the historian Jon is the military guy Ygritte is his dead ex Sam is the science guy Theon is the villain guy who later becomes the love interest
Dead to me Jen - arya (not cold but very firmly not warm, resting bitch face, might kill sansa but also might kill for sansa) Judy - sansa (bleeding heart, bad men, so much guilt, more than a little confessy when she’s wronged someone, potential to be kinda gay!) Ted - ???? Steve - harry hardyng? Littlefinger himself? Ramsay? Joffrey? Maybe joffrey works best? Ben - gendry (work if he’s joffrey’s “half-brother” or w/e)
Saved au Mary - sansa Cassandra - arya Roland - willas? Tyrion? Hilary Faye - Margaery? Cersei? Patrick - jon? Pastor skip - ned Mary-Louise Parker - catelyn Dean - loras? Theon? Mitch - renly? Robb? Tia - Veronica -
Don’t look under the bed Frances - sansa Darwin - bran after he falls/is pushed Albert - robb? Joann - jon with modifications so that he is a potential love interest at the end for sansa Larry - theon Zoe - margaery? Parents - ned and cat
Hunger games Katniss - jon tbh lmao Peeta - sansa Gale - ygritte? daenerys? Prim - arya? Or does it have to be bran/rickon since jon is a boy?? Maybe it’s not a boy/girl tribute thing maybe it’s just any two tributes Haymitch - tyrion? Dontos? Mance rayder? Wyman manderly? Thoughts to be thunk here with who would be in what district if we want to really get crazy Effie - varys lmfao???? Finnick - jaime lannister Johanna - daenerys? Ooooh but could be brienne if you leaned into it maybe President snow - mad king aerys? Beetee - tyrion? Rue - satin?
Grease Sandy - sansa Danny - jon Kenickie - tormund? Mance? Roger - sam Other greasers - pyp, grenn, etc Rizzo - ygritte Frenchy - gilly? Val? Idk ygritte for rizzo is really the only one that resonates i just love grease Fuck actually ygritte as the rizzo to sansa’s sandy is so good that this is worth giving some more thought The wall boys are such lil fucking nerds that they feel right for the delinquent greasers, too Although lbr jon is more of an alfalfa in the he-man woman haters’ club than he is a danny zucko Theon is more of a danny zucko but i don’t know if i want this for theonsa Anyway sansa’s whole family moved and robb is now doing athlete shit with whoever that athlete sandy briefly dates is (harry hardyng?) Is chacha val?????? Maybe arya falls in with the pink ladies first and then sansa gets sort of reluctantly dragged along Arya sings sandra dee at first and then when rizzo starts to join in she’s like wait only i get to make fun of sansa
Mama mia Meryl streep - sansa Pierce brosnan - jon Swedish guy - theon Colin firth - loras tyrell Christine baranski - margaery tyrell Other friend - jeyne poole LMFAO catelyn as cher i just cackled why is that so funny even though it doesn’t make sense
Harry Potter Sirius - jon James - Robb Lily - Jeyne westerling (except is she maybe more of a james figure politically) Petunia (but nice) - sansa Peter - theon Remus - samwell Tarly Vernon (but just dating) - Harry Hardyng Madame hooch - arya Weasleys - sam and gilly
New girl Jess - sansa Cece - margaery Nick - jon Schmidt - robb Winston - theon
10th kingdom Virginia - sansa The wolf - jon Jon larroquette - ned
Goodbye earl Maryanne - sansa Wanda - jeyne Earl - ramsay
Bring it on (for the gays) Torrance - sansa Torrance’s lil brother - arya Big red - margaery // cersei? The clovers - the sand snakes Missy - mya stone? // margaery? Cliff - gendry // willas/loras? Aaron - daenerys
Teenage bounty hunters Sterling - sansa Blair - arya Debbie - cat Dana - lysa Bowser - the hound?
Buffy the vampire slayer Buffy - arya Cordelia - sansa Willow - bran Xander - jon Angel - gendry Amy - jojen (or is jojen tara?) Dawn - rickon (robb is already away at college?)
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multiversaljournals · 3 months
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Headcanons (that are canon in my fanfics)
Part 1: Cato Hadley
Wanted to preface this; This will include spoilers for the fanfiction For The Birds and Avox, so if you haven't read it or don't want it spoiled, don't read more
pre-games / per-ressurection Cato:
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Cato is the middle child of his family and has witnessed his older brother, Mors (named after the Roman god of death) die in the games, Mors was killed by the District 4 tribute of that year.
Cato and Clove grew up together and their families were close with one another (both their dads were peacekeepers and met on the front line)
Cato is a descendant / grandchild??? of Sejanus through his mothers side (this is still being worked on, otherwise they're just direct parallels given how they treat their respective partner) (i wanted more doomed lovers, sue me)
Cato can't dance. He just can't. Two left feet no boogie.
During the reaping, he found Marvel weird and a little bit stupid but later during training, the two had a sort-of friends dynamic.
post-games / post-resurrection
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Cato is actually in constant pain due to being literally put back together after being mauled by the dogs (his body was reconstructed via dna samples and Capitol science but he's conditioned to ignore it.
Cato has so much memory issues that he actually can only remember the basics of past relationships or peoples faces - so he Knows his mother and sister, but he doesn't Know them or what they mean to him.
During their time in the Capitol, Cato's friendship with Marvel faded, but he and Glimmer grew a somewhat close dynamic.
Cato, after months of therapy within D-13, is actually rather close to Finnick and Katniss both, Finnick due to both being utilized and treated like objects / luxury by the Capitol and Katniss due to having a mutual respect for one another later due to both being older siblings.
Cato is ambidextrous, uses both hands for fighting and other stuff.
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wreywrites · 7 months
Text
Tiger Shark
Part 4: The Anchor
Chapter 25
Four’s victors get home a week later. I am still on Chip 1, and starting to wonder how long they each are, but I am more excited to have Finnick back. Dad makes supper for whoever wants it. Unsurprisingly, Cellin and Manta decline, but the rest of us and Jade enjoy salmon and rice. Jade leaves right after supper, followed not long after by Beck and Mags. Dad has an early morning at work, so Finnick and I do the dishes before dragging ourselves to bed.
I almost don’t want to ask, because I know how much it will hurt. But I need to know. “Could we have done it?”
Laying on his side, Finnick shrugs as best he can. “You didn’t have anything to make that threat with. And…” he hesitates, thinking. “Would you really want to? Think about what those two have to do now, for the rest of their lives. Whether or not they’re in love now, which, frankly, I doubt, at least on Katniss’s end, they have to act that in love for the rest of their lives. They can’t break up, ever. They have to get married and live happily ever after, and never not be totally, completely, suicidally in love with each other.”
I hadn’t thought about that. “Even if we had done it, we might have grown apart. Actually, I’m sure we would have. We approached the Games so differently, it… it made lots of things about Mako that I either hadn’t noticed or had been ignoring come more to the front. And we wouldn’t have had that option.”
Finnick shakes his head. “I don’t know what’s going to happen with those two. It’s uncharted waters.”
~~~                               ~~~                               ~~~
Even before their Victory Tour starts, I can tell something is off. There is a feeling in the air of change, that staticky sensation that comes right before a storm at sea. Finnick and I watch their speeches. Everywhere, the crowds are tense. Peacekeeper presence is high in the poorer districts. Even Four, which usually enjoys an easy relationship with our Peacekeepers, gets a trainload shipped in for the Tour.
The day before the banquet, Finnick and I are sitting on the pier, watching a patrol boat going back and forth along the recreational part of the shoreline. “Things are playing out,” Finnick says quietly. “But whether we’ll have a Megary situation is yet to be discovered.”
“You don’t think the Capitol would kill them?”
“I don’t know. We’ve never had two victors before. And apparently more people than me believe they aren’t as in love as all that. Which makes it look like an act of rebellion, not an act of desperation.”
“Everything feels weird.”
He nods. “I didn’t get invited to the party in the Capitol. Which, normally, I wouldn’t be concerned about, but none of the other victors have either. The ones I’ve talked to, anyway.”
“They won’t try to get rid of them there.”
“No, too public. But they are cutting them off from the rest of us. I’ll bet that’s the last thing they want, any of us being friends with those two. We’ve already gotten in trouble for being a little too loud in our discontent and paid for it with Megary, and now they’ve got two victors who won by defiance. That’s a lot of bitterness in one room.”
“And in a group of people with a lot of power. If the victors ever all stood up and said enough is enough, we’d turn some heads.”
“And get shot,” Finnick snorts.
“Do you ever think it might be worth it, though? They can pass off Megary’s death as a heart attack, or whatever they called it, some freak thing that tragically took a beloved victor from us, but what happens if the fifty-however-many of us that are left all stood up and said no? They can’t kill us all, because if we all die, it’s on them. We can’t all have convenient accidents at the same time.”
“No, but they can kill a lot of parents and a lot of kids. Brothers and sisters, husbands, wives. Who would it take to stop you? Jade and Coral? Your dad? If they held a gun to Augustus’s head, would you give up? They’ve got a list for everyone. Otherwise we would have pushed back by now. But not everyone is as lucky as Johanna, to have no one left they can threaten. Most of us have people. And I’d love to fight, but…” He takes a deep breath. “But I’m not going to let them do anything to you.”
~~~                               ~~~                               ~~~
Yet another sign of things being different this year is that we are not invited to the meal after the victory speech. Usually mandatory for all living victors, the banquet simply isn’t mentioned to any of us. We watch the speeches in front of the Justice Building, and then we are sent home to Victor’s Village, where we have to cook our own supper.
“I might rebel over having to cook my own shrimp tonight,” Finnick says as he boils water for noodles. “I look forward to that stupid meal every year, and now they take that away from me too.”
I sleep badly that night, plagued by a dream in which Mako and I did pull off a dual-victory and are now on our Victory Tour, but someone gets to every district just hours before us and spreads the rumor that I am in love with Gloss and Mako with one of our neighbors, so the tour is a failure because no one in the districts believes that we love each other. I am so worked up when I wake that I leave Finnick to sleep alone and I wander the streets for a few hours. When the sun starts to come up, I go back home.
“Gonna rain today?” Finnick mumbles as I crawl back into bed.
“Probably. How’d you know?”
“You’re cold, so you’ve been outside. I assumed you had a guess about the weather.”
“I make no promises about the rain, but something’s coming. I can just feel it.”
****
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shieldwife · 3 years
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i’ve been listening to thg audiobooks and this is my first time engaging with the books as an adult, and like, jesus christ. first of all, why was i allowed to read this when i was 11? secondly, reading it as an adult when the last time i actually read the books was in middle school is just making me realize that all of these characters are SO YOUNG and this is making me a whole new kind of sad
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New* Hunger Games OCs
I was feeling fucking awful today so I ended up spending most of the day going through the Hunger Games ocs I made a couple of months ago and naming them!!!
*not entire new since they’re from a few months ago but still lmao
Aimee Rose Baird — District 12/Covey OC; Lucy Gray Baird’s granddaughter (w/ snow, but he doesn’t know it), Katniss’ cousin
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Concordia Snow — Capitol OC; Snow’s granddaughter; Finnick’s only real friend in the capitol, "hires" him whenever possible so that she can use that time to share capitol secrets and give him a break from his clients, sees Finnick as a big brother of sorts)
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Ginny Cresta — District 4 OC; Annie’s sister, won the 73rd annual hunger games, violently protective of her sister, potential platonic Annie & Finnick w/ romantic Ginny & Finnick but TBD
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Hollis Everdeen — District 12 OC; The middle Everdeen sister, Katniss and Peeta are in the 73rd hunger games and she’s reaped for the 74th
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Lacey Tanner — District 8 OC; first tribute to ever survive the arena without killing; youngest victor ever at just 12, won the 68th annual hunger games; Finnick ship
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Lux Marcella — District 1 OC; capitol darling, publicly best friends with Finnick and they’re often seen/treated as a “package deal”, both are actually in love with each other but refuse to acknowledge it bc it gives Snow something to use against them; Finnick ship
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Lysa Undersee — District 12 OC; Madge Undersee’s twin sister; Finnick ship
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Marella Flanagan — District 4 OC; Mags’ granddaughter, volunteers for the quarter quell, like a little sister to Finnick
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Waverly Coin — District 13 OC; Coin's daughter (the only surviving member of her family) who has a very cold and distant relationship with her mother and takes responsibility for taking care of Katniss & Finnick and helping them adapt do district 13, and becomes part of the propos team & their squadron thing; potentially Finnick or Finniss oc
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poes-and-things · 3 years
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So after seeing a screen cap of Katniss and Peeta doing recon on the other tributes in Catching Fire with the caption “power couple”, I watched both Hunger Games and Catching Fire last night.
My opinions have changed a lot about this series over the years.  Probably due to the fact that I only read the books once.  To put in perspective: the first book was really good.  I absolutely loved it.  The concept was dark and interesting and 11 year old me was enthralled.  I remember reading Catching Fire in a day.  I didn’t leave my room that Sunday.  My parents thought I died.  The only other book I did that with that year was Life As We Know It (another apocalyptic book series that I highly recommend).  I hated the last book.
When the movies came out, my best friend dragged me to see them.  After reading Mockingjay, I wasn’t really excited to see any of those books on the big screen.  But I went and had mixed feelings.
Years later, I’ve rewatched them a couple times and I think back in April of 2020 I finally watched the 2nd part of Mockingjay.  Again, I have a lot of thoughts about this series, both in the books and on the big screen.  Here are the ones from last night.
First of all, Liam Hemsworth is a carbon copy of Chris Hemsworth and that’s really starting to bother me.  If I were to close my eyes, I wouldn’t be able to tell you who is who based solely on the sound of their voice.  It’s laughable to me that the MCU casting directors ditched one brother for literally a carbon copy; they do realize what they did, right?  Anyway, I think the only reason I liked Gale in the films when they first came out 9 years ago (how fucking old am I) was because I was obsessed with Chris Hemsworth, as every 14 year old straight white girl was.  Honestly, I think they could’ve cast someone better in that role.
Second.  In the books, I got real fucking frustrated with this Peeta vs Gale attention.  I remember reading Catching Fire and thinking “I don’t fucking CARE just fix the damn government”--this was something that was solved in the films.  During Catching Fire, we watch as the boys realize it’s not about romance because the world they live in doesn’t really allow them to have that, but it’s more about who gives you the strength to keep going.  And Peeta is that for Katniss, never Gale.
I love the twist that Suzanne Collins did with this relationship dynamic, making Peeta fucking useless and adorable while Katniss is a dangerous, sarcastic, snippy asshole.  I can’t stop laughing at how much Peeta reminds me of Marie from Aristocats constantly needing to be saved by others.  At least in Catching Fire.
In Hunger Games, the forced romance between Katniss and Peeta is incredibly uncomfortable.  JLaw did an amazing job making it come off as a cognizant and intentional choice to “fall in love with Peeta” versus something that Katniss actually felt.  This was something I didn’t pick up on at the movie theater when I was 14/15 years old.  Which makes the relationship she and Peeta build together in Catching Fire that much more pure and unique because that no longer was a cognizant choice for survival, it was a necessary choice.  And it happens when the “survival” definition changes as well--we go from physical survival in an arena of death to an emotional survival of tackling PTSD demons and threats from powerful regimes.
Sam Clafflin brought so much life to Finnick O’Dair that I actually cared about this character.  In the books, he was just a blip on my radar until the moment when he broadcasted Capitol secrets during the sting op to rescue Peeta.  But in the films, I would die for Finnick.  He deserved so much better.  So did Annie.
The costume and makeup department doesn’t get enough credit.  JLaw and Hutchinson literally look like children in the first movie.  It’s insane what makeup, lighting, and the right outfit can do to visibly change age perception.  I do think that the change in the second film is a little too much too quick, though.  It’s only meant to be like 6 months to a year after the first film.  In my experience, most kids don’t look 23 after a year of puberty.  It takes at least two or three years to get to that age point.
What else?  I feel like there was something else...
Oh.  Negotiation tactics.  Be like Katniss Everdeen.  Know what things you HAVE to have in life and fight like hell to get them.  In movie/book one, it was protect the sister and survive.  Accomplished, check.  In movie/book two, it was protect and save Peeta.  Only agree to things if it keeps Peeta alive.  All of her decisions are about and for him.  Granted, it didn’t fully work out in her favor, but she got everyone to drop everything in the next book/movie to rectify the situation.  A plus to Katniss Everdeen for sticking to her guns.  And she’s only 16 or 17 years old in these books.  If she can do it, you can do it.
Anyway.  This was a long post.  I might watch the other two films tonight.  Who knows.  Sometimes you just want to watch anxious teens murder each other for sport.  Especially when you don’t want to face your own emotions.
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jlalafics · 4 years
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Modern Au dabble where Everlark connect on the roof of one of their houses and then cute kiss leading into ya know? Thanks! You and your books are amazing! -Zeffie ♥️♥️
Hey love! Thanks for this amazing prompt. I hope you wanted this ficlet with a good amount of spice...
Enjoy @hungergamesfangirl02 (Zeffie)!
_____
The moment she steps onto the roof, Peeta spots her.
She is circling the space with her roommates; the sharp-tongued woman with blunt bangs and crimson lowlights and the blue-eyed blonde wearing a crown of flowers. His roommate, Gale, had a one-night thing with the blonde. Peeta can still remember the muttered moaning of her name through the thin walls of their apartment: Madge…Madge…Madge…
Peeta drinks from his red cup, trying to quietly observe the girl in the middle. She’s wearing a cropped jean jacket and a shift burgundy dress with embroidered straps. The ankle boots lengthen her rich-colored legs and he wonders, albeit briefly, what he would see if a sudden gust of wind were to sweep through.
However, it’s summer in the city.
Balmy and warm, the sun just going down and it’s practically another day.
“Peeta!” He turns, spotting Finnick, his other roommate, and Annie, Finnick’s girlfriend. It’s his friend’s birthday and a possible engagement party. Annie doesn’t know, but Peeta and Finnick just picked up the ring from the jeweler this afternoon. “Why are you hiding in the corner?”
“You know that I’m not the party type,” he tells them with a smile. Peeta eyes his friend. “So…anything interesting going on?”
“Not quite,” Finnick responds, throwing an arm around Annie’s shoulders. “Maybe a little later.”
Peeta nods, trying to suppress his smile. It’s not often that his friend is uncertain; he’s known Finnick since they were in diapers and his bronze-haired friend has always moved forward, unafraid of what was ahead of him.
However, when it comes to Annie, the man is total mush.
“You need to circulate,” Annie tells him, her green eyes full of kind concern. “It’s been a year since Delly.”
“Who’s Delly?” comes a brash voice.
They all turn to find the woman with red hair standing before them.
And, right next to her is—
“Katniss!” Annie is rushing towards the pretty girl to give her a hug. Then she goes to Miss Blunt Bangs, embracing her as well. “Johanna!”
They all pull apart and Annie introduces them to Finnick and Peeta.
“I’ve seen you before on campus,” Finnick says to Katniss—Peeta is already in love just hearing her name. “You’re a voice major, right?”
Katniss nods. “Yup, but more song writing and composition than singing.”
“Well, you should talk to Peeta here.” Finnick waves at hand at him, clover eyes sparkling. He knows Peeta well enough to identify when he’s interested in something…or someone. “He’s exceptionally talented when it comes to playing. I don’t think there’s an instrument that he hasn’t experimented with.”
Katniss turns, grey almond-eyes on him. “I’ve seen you around before.”
“I don’t go to Juilliard,” Peeta stammers out.
“No!” She grins and he finds himself smiling back at the way her face completely blooms with loveliness. “I’ve seen you sitting on this roof. You play out here sometimes.”
“Yeah, Katniss has been mini-spying on you,” Johanna informs him.
“Really?” He eyes her and Katniss’ cheeks color—geez, now she’s even more gorgeous. “I’m flattered.”
“I actually live over there—” Katniss points to the adjacent building. It’s at few floors higher, but just enough for someone to look over and see clearly onto their roof. “—sometimes I go up to write or to look at the stars.”
“Don’t lie to the man,” her friend retorts, earning a glare. “At least tell him that you’re a little hot for him holding a guitar.”
“Johanna—” Annie thankfully interrupts. “Thresh has been looking for you.”
“I gave him a blowjob last month and he’s been hitting me up ever since,” she replies. Looking over at Katniss, Johanna winks. “Have fun with your mystery man.”
The two girls walk off, leaving Finnick, Peeta, and Katniss standing together.
“Oh!” Finnick looks around. “I think I better make sure that we still have enough ice and prepare for my birthday speech.” He pats Peeta on the back. “Have fun.”
“I don’t think I’ve seen a more obvious setup,” Katniss tells him when they’re finally alone.
“They mean well,” Peeta replies. “At least, Annie and Finnick do. Johanna is a bit of a mystery.” He looks over to the bar. “Did you want a drink?”
“Sure.” They head to the bar; Peeta tries to keep cool as Katniss joins his side. Their hands are a muscle movement away from touching and he stiffens his hand. “I’d love a Corona and lime.”
“Very summer of you,” he replies before requesting it from the bartender. “How do you know Annie?”
The bartender places the tall neck bottle, placing the lime wedge at the opening, before handing it to Katniss.
They find their way to a spot at the far corner of the party and settle down together on a lone bench. Finnick is talking to the DJ and he sees Annie talking to Madge, whose arm is around Gale’s waist. Johanna has found Thresh and they are dancing, both decently tearing up the floor.
It’s the perfect summer night.
“She works with Johanna,” Katniss explains. “I think they’re EAs for the two CEOs, so they’re always working together. I’ve known Johanna my whole life. When I found out I got into Juilliard, I didn’t hesitate to ask her to come with me. She didn’t hesitate to say yes. Her home life was less than ideal.”
“That sucks.” Real smooth, idiot. His tongue is so tied around her, but Peeta takes a breath and searches for another topic. “How about you? What’s your family life like?”
“I have one sister. Sweetest girl you’ll ever know.” Her smile goes soft and sad, lost in thought. “My Dad passed away when I was five.”
“I’m sorry.”
His hand goes unconsciously to hers resting between them. Peeta motions to pull away, but her fingers entwine with his.
Their eyes meet, silently agreeing that it feels right.
“It’s fine. He was sick for a long time,” Katniss explains. “When I was 12, my mom met Haymitch and we all kind of loved him from the start. They got married when I was 13 and have been thoroughly happy ever since.” She moves closer. “And you? Tell me about your family.”
“My Dad’s a businessman,” he starts. “Have you heard of Mellark Bakery?”
“Yeah, they have that huge factory across the bridge,” Katniss replies. “Your Dad work there?”
Peeta holds out his free hand, wondering if he should have open this can of worms. However, if this is going anywhere (is it too early to propose?), he should probably tell her about his family.
“Nice to meet you. Peeta Mellark.”
Katniss let out a laugh, putting down her Corona to shake his hand.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know I was meeting with a son of industry!”
“My Dad is actually pretty cool,” he tells her. “He’s always been very encouraging and supportive of me and my older brothers, Emmett and Noel. Emmett is an artist and Noel is a chef.”
“And your mother?”
“Pretty opposite.” Katniss squeezes his hand, listening intently. “She’s a society woman. Very beautiful, but very cold.”
“Oh, she is going to hate me,” Katniss replies.
Peeta grins at her words. “Already planning to meet the parents?”
“Of course. We’ve connected, you know?” she proclaims. “Now that I’ve seen you up close, there’s no going back.”
“And your family?” he counters. “Would they like me?”
“They’re going to love you,” she says, her grey eyes on him. “You seem so easy to care for.”
Peeta looks at his feet, overcome by her words. “How do you know?”
“Last month, I was coming home from school and you were walking out of your building. There was a little old woman coming out of her taxi and she seemed to be struggling to even open the door. So, you opened the door for her, and you helped her set up her walker on the sidewalk. Then, you paid for her cab and helped her inside your building. Nobody does shit like that anymore. Everyone always seems to be looking out for themselves, nowadays.”
“Mags has lived here the longest, so she’s kind of building royalty,” Peeta explains. “Also, her husband died a while back and she has no kids. The people in this building are her family and we take care of one another.”
“I like that,” Katniss tells him.
“I like you,” he blurts out. “I mean, if it hasn’t been obvious enough.”
Katniss doesn’t respond, but she shifts a little bit closer to him as she stares into his eyes.
“Do you want to get out of here?”
Peeta is intrigued by her abruptness. “What did you have in mind?”
She pulls him by his hand to stand up. He rises and their chests brush against one another. It is brief, but it is enough to light a fire in his belly at the feel of peaked nipples against his thin flannel button-down.
“We’re going stargazing.”
++++++
“For some reason, Johanna has a deal with the maintenance crew in the building,” Katniss recounts as they step onto the roof of her apartment complex. “No one else but myself, Johanna, and Madge are allowed up here.” She leads him over to a set of lounge chairs. “I don’t really know what kind of deal she cut, and I’ve never bothered to ask.”
“That’s probably for the best,” he tells her. “Are you allowed to bring people up here?”
“I’m pretty sure that Johanna and Madge have brought guys up here before.” Katniss turns to him, her eyes glowing under the light of the moon. “You are the only person that I’ve ever brought here…the only person I want to bring here.”
Peeta isn’t sure if it is the moon…or the Corona…or the heat of the night…but something dances inside his chest, telling him to go to her. Her eyes are on him, hunger so intense in them that there is nothing he could do but go to her. Katniss follows suit, marching towards him with determination.
A groan escapes her lips at the feel of him hard against her pelvis. “Peeta, please…”
They meet in the middle of the roof, breaths heavy and Katniss reaches to cup his cheek. His arm rounds her slender waist, pulling her close to let her feel what she does to him.
“What would you like?” he asks, voice roughened with need. His free hand moves along the lines of her body and she whines, pressing closer to him. “Tell me what you want, Katniss.”
“I want you to kiss me.” Katniss’ mouth grazes against him and he nearly crumbles at the feel of heat between her legs. “Then, I want you to fuck me until we both see stars.”
His mouth is on hers, slotting them together. He sucks harshly at her upper lip as her hands reach for him, holding his face in place as she bites at his lower lip. They both moan into one another, tasting lime and alcohol and the fire between them.
Katniss moves them towards one of the chairs, her hands traveling down and reaching to the buttons of his shirt as her tongue sweeps into his mouth. His own hands move to yank at her jean jacket until she shrugs it off.
“Touch me, Peeta,” she says into his mouth. His shirt has been tossed to the ground and her hands roam unabashedly against his heated skin.
Peeta reaches for the hem of her dress and Katniss complies, lifting her arms up so he could pull the dress over her head. Once it is off, he steps back and looks at the beautiful woman under the summer moon.
Every inch of her skin is caramel and Peeta licks his lips ravenously as his eyes rove over lush breasts with rosy nipples…the graceful dip of her waist…full hips…and nude mesh panties that cover a thatch of dark hair.
“You are beautiful,” he rasps.
Katniss slowly sits down on the lounger, resting back. Her chest heaves, nipples pointed in the warm air, as she waits expectantly for him.
Peeta kneels before her. Carefully, he takes her boots and places them next to the lounger. Then, he is at her center, mouthing her through the mesh and sampling the honey pleasure of her core. Her hands go to his hair, fingers running through his hair and nails scratching at his scalp as he sucks and tongues her through the scrap of nothing.
“Fuck! Peeta!” Her wails are like gold and he moans, vibrating against her cunt. “More, please!” He moves the scrap of cloth away from her quim and plunges his tongue inside her. “Oh my God!”
Part of him is thankful for the party next door, the vibration of music sheathing her cries in the air. Peeta loves the sound of her, unabashed in showing him how good she feels. Katniss pushes herself against his tongue, legs wrapping around his head as she humps his face.
He is drenched in her; his new favorite drink for a summer’s night.
Peeta’s hands move to his jeans, unbuttoning and unzipping them quickly.
Pulling away, Katniss whines at the motion until she sees his pants undone. Her eyes, already smoky, have gone obsidian at the sight and he pushes his briefs down, his erection jutting out.
She sits up, one hand pressed to the seat as the other reaches to his length, wrapping her fingers around him. Her thumb moves to the mushroomed head, spreading the precum and he almost seizes at the sensation.
“You’ve given me what I want,” she tells him, her hand stroking him slowly. “What do you want?”
“I want to show you the stars,” Peeta replies, his hand reaching to her panties and she lifts her hips, letting him slide them off until it joins their pile of discarded clothing. He stands before her, reaching for the waist of his jeans and boxers before pulling them off in one motion. His shoes and socks followed, joining her boots.
He stands before her, naked and obviously wanting.
Katniss lays back, pushing herself up onto her elbows, admiring the sight before her.
“I did watch you from here,” she says, her voice strained. “You’d fiddle with your guitar and I’d fiddle myself.”
The image of Katniss, hands on herself…fingers dipping into that dripping cunt is just too much.
Peeta falls to his knees, yanking her down until ass is at the edge of the chair, the backs of her legs pressing along his front.
Then, in one motion, he thrusts roughly into her sodden quim.
The moment Peeta slides into her, her whole body growls.
He can feel her contracting around him and he begins to move, savoring the feeling of being surrounded by her slick. Peeta leans down and their lips meet, her body practically folding in half so he can taste her.
Katniss moans into their kiss, tasting her essence against his tongue as they move against one another. The chair creaks under the pressure of their fucking and he can’t imagine that it feels very comfortable.
He attempts to lift her in-between thrusts, but Katniss frantically shakes her head.
“No, just like this,” she gasps into his sweaty skin. Her legs spread away to wrap around his waist. “Won’t be long now…”
She feels too good, silk and sopping around his cock. Her grip on him is the perfect pressure and as he thrusts, Katniss arches up, bottoming out.
“Holy fuck, you’re amazing,” he groans. “There is no way in hell that I’m letting you go now.”
Hell, Peeta is already convinced that this woman with the dark waves and smoky eyes is the woman that he’s going to marry. In his mind’s eye, he already imagines her in a white dress…carrying her over the threshold of her dream home…of fucking her against every wall of the house…of filling her to the brim until she’s swollen with his child.
“Don’t let me go,” Katniss cries out, her insides beginning to flutter around him, and he juts his cock shallowly knowing that he’s going to spill inside her at any moment. “I wanted you since the moment I saw you…fuck….oh…” Her muscles pulsate around him and her pelvis rises to meet his thrusts.
Her cries are swallowed into the starry sky above them and Peeta watches her in the beauty of her climax. Her hair flows behind her, her skin glistening, and she’s smiles up, her eyes full of love.
She’s watching him, jaw clenched, as the sky above is suddenly illuminated by fireworks, creating a halo around him.
Peeta comes undone, filling her, his pelvis pressing to hers until he is spent.
After, he lays, pillowed against her chest, her hand smoothing down his mussed hair.
“I see stars…” she whispers against him.
“Annie must have said yes,” he explains. “I picked up the ring with Finnick today.”
Katniss snorts. “When Finnick does something, he goes hard.”
“So do I,” he tells her.
She kisses the top of his head. “What do you mean by that?”
“You’ll see.”
They are married three months later.
 FIN.
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