thecapitol | (no subject)

Who| Mentors, stylist, escorts, and anyone else keeping up with tributes in an official aspect.
What| The green room
Where| The tribute training center
When| start of the arena
Warnings/Notes| none inherent, tags thread subjects as needed.

The green room this round has been decorated with the sensibility of what would be, in our era, a turn of the century sitting room. Dark wood paneling, thick rich red velvet furniture, and plush red curtains drawn back over various monitors with heavy gold cords. Although the room is quiet large to contain so many people, it gives the impression of being intimate. The Avoxes, decked out in vaguely militaristic attire, serve food and drink in silver and crystal dishes, gold alcohol catching the light of the stained glass lamps around the room.

In the center of the room is a holographic projection of the arena, highlighting in flickering lights where each tribute is. Panels hidden discretely in the wood paneling can change the view of any of the screens so a mentor or stylist can pull up their own tribute, or one whom they would like to observe.

The projection can easily be shifted, with the flick of a hand, on to the person's own tablet, or even to be projected on one of the sitting tables placed around the room. On their screens other various information can be easily accessed: current odds, gossip, and even communication from potential bidders.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Finnick spotted Peeta right off the bat. He knew who it was, of course, who around here didn't? But he hadn't had a chance to approach one of the last real native victors in Panem.

He waited until he was sure Peeta wasn't paying attention to him before coming closer. Finnick was happy to watch someone else's worries over his own, it was a welcome distraction.

"You know you could ask for help if you need it."

He had been focused intently on the screen, trying to figure it all out (it seems so simple!), so when he head a voice near him, he stiffened up, turning to look.

Oh. Finnick Odair. Had to come about sometime, and Peeta brightly smiled at him. No fake smile here. He was always sincere for people who deserved it. Other mentors deserved it.

"I could, I really should. Must have been a sight instinct to protect my pride." He laughed. "Thank you, Finnick, right? I'm Peeta."

Finnick only deserved it because Peeta hadn't heard what he said to Katniss earlier. But he would take what he could get right now.

"Finnick Odair, and you hardly have to introduce yourself. You're still one of the hottest properties around here, even with all the new people around."

He glanced down at Peeta's tablet screen and just shook his head. "Just don't ask me, I haven't gotten much further with that thing than you have."

So maybe he wasn't going to make the best first impression on Peeta, either.

"I guess so, but I don't like assuming something." Well, you know. When he hears it (and he'll hear it, eventually), then that might be more of a problem. But maybe he hadn't really needed to introduce himself. It was polite. And Peeta wanted to be polite, maybe make a good impression.

"No? I thought you would know what to do, after being here so long." Peeta grinned. Okay, maybe he was assuming something right now. There is no way you could be here so long without knowing something like how to work a tablet.

"Maybe that's the cue for taking a break now." He laughed, standing up and stretching. "Never let me buy a watch, I don't need to know how much time I'm spending here."

"I usually don't bother with these things. It's too tense and personal. I'd rather see the bigger picture." Which wasn't entirely true, but it worked for now.

Finnick was all too happy for any kind of distraction at the moment and when Peeta wanted to get up he was quick to join in.

"It would be a lovely time for a walk. Most of them will still be here when we get back."

"We're pretty different then: I'm trying to see the bigger picture, but I haven't had the practice that needs it." Double meaning in there? Who can tell these days, it all seems like double meanings these days.

"That... is a great idea." Peeta grinned, moving away from all the chairs and viewing screens. "Go outside, maybe? I could use fresh air and maybe some sun."

"Well don't expect too much help, I can't have you showing me up and stealing all the wins for District 12." He was only half kidding. He wouldn't set up any other mentor to fail, but he also can't babysit all of them and his own tributes at the same time.

"If you're up for it, I'd be glad for the company." He offered Peeta a hand up out of his chair. He meant the help sincerely, if nothing else.

No worries on that one, he'd like to say, but that was something he'd never be able to say. "I'd have to think of something really big to show you up, but just give me some time. I'll think of something." Only half kidding, because if it's one thing Peeta knows he can do, is think of something big to blow others out of the water.

Grabbing his hand, he got up from his seat with a smile. "I always like company. As long as you don't mind possible mindless chatter, I've been told I'm a talker."

Finnick looks Peeta dead in the eye when he answers. "If anyone could show me up, it would be you."

He knows how well Peeta can play to the crowd, he isn't joking in the slightest. But as soon as the storm in his eyes clears he's back to his normal Capitol self.

"A little mindless chatter is just what I need right now, so lead on."

It throws him off, that honesty. Because it was honesty, and he could see it in Finnick's 'sea foam eyes'. And it was unexpected, it really was. And there was something else there, this person beneath the whole exterior Finnick showed to the world.

Maybe he was acting, too. A really good actor, but Peeta wasn't sure. He rallied back quickly, though, as he always did. It looked like nothing ever fazed him, and he could play that part.

"Mindless chatter, okay, good." He started to walk, expecting Finnick to walk with him. "So being here... did you go back home, when the other tributes got to see their district?"

This was hardly the time or the place to show his true colors to Peeta, even if he had a feeling that Peeta was someone he could probably trust with it. But that would take time, and a better situation.

"I went back with them on the train and then paraded around with all my little tributes. Why? Were you stuck here while all the pageantry was going on? Because only you could be so lucky."

Peeta shook his head. "No, we were able to go back home with the tributes. It wasn't that bad, actually. I know everyone had a good time at the parties." Not that there was a lot to show off in twelve. But it had been so nice to get back there. See family. De-stress.

"You didn't want to go with them? I would think... you know." He shrugged, looking away. Maybe Finnick didn't want to go back to Four. He had no idea.

He has no family there to de-stress with, and being there can cause more harm than good for the few people he does want to see. It's safer to be away when there are cameras around, and with the tributes around there are always cameras.

"Yeah, Four can throw a good party. I'm sure Twelve knows their way around some fun, too. But it's different bringing in kids who have no connection to your home and trying to force it on them. They're never going to know the districts the way you or I do."

"We do what we can." Peeta laughed, looking at Finnick with a grin, and a serious look, all in one. Something he can pull off, and not many people can, and make it look natural. A little something for the cameras, while being honest.

"No, they're not." Shaking his head, he looked back to where the screens were, considering them for a moment. All of those tributes, his tributes, Finnick's tributes. Everyone's.

"But I think it was a good idea. To see what they're fishing for, really fighting for. And why we're glad they're here for right now." A nod to the Capitol, and a nod to the fact that they did want them to go home. Because it didn't matter who they were fighting for; they were still fighting.