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

"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.