The question takes Stephen aback. "I--" he begins, truthfully unsure of what to say. Of course I do and of course I don't are two equally strong knee-jerk responses he experiences. But it's true: even before the Quarter Quell, sending children into the Arena year after year got harder and harder, and seeing the people of District 6 starving and using and dying got harder and harder, and... "It's a hard thing to watch," he says after a beat. "People living like that. I wish..."
No. Saying anything else would be dangerous, wouldn't it? Stephen wishes they didn't have to live that way. He wishes the Hunger Games didn't exist. He understands, now, that they don't have to. More and more, Stephen Reagan has questioned the wisdom of Panem being run the way it is.
He shakes his head.
"Never mind, it doesn't matter. Anyway, you're absolutely right about the PR. It's something we've done -- the Tributes all went to tour their districts last year, but the turnover has been so high that I'd say only about half of our current Tributes remember." He's having a little bit of trouble keeping his smile natural. God, but remembering some of his old Tributes makes him sad. With the Quell the way it was, he'd let himself get attached, only to have them taken away one by one as they weren't revived after their Arenas. "But don't worry about that now. It's great to see you taking an interest in Six -- not many do," he adds, rueful, "--but you can worry about that later." He makes a shoo, shoo gesture.
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No. Saying anything else would be dangerous, wouldn't it? Stephen wishes they didn't have to live that way. He wishes the Hunger Games didn't exist. He understands, now, that they don't have to. More and more, Stephen Reagan has questioned the wisdom of Panem being run the way it is.
He shakes his head.
"Never mind, it doesn't matter. Anyway, you're absolutely right about the PR. It's something we've done -- the Tributes all went to tour their districts last year, but the turnover has been so high that I'd say only about half of our current Tributes remember." He's having a little bit of trouble keeping his smile natural. God, but remembering some of his old Tributes makes him sad. With the Quell the way it was, he'd let himself get attached, only to have them taken away one by one as they weren't revived after their Arenas. "But don't worry about that now. It's great to see you taking an interest in Six -- not many do," he adds, rueful, "--but you can worry about that later." He makes a shoo, shoo gesture.