"I believe in long investments," says Alpha, glancing around, both for the cameras he can see and the cameras he can only guess at. Then he moves closer, carefully telegraphing his movements so Howard doesn't run off and turn this into a waste of time. "I have no intention of staying in this gilded cage of a city," he continues, fast and barely audible. He can't keep the Capitol from finding out he wants to leave or plans to try and make that happen, but that's most of the Tributes anyway. The point is putting up appearances and not letting the Capitol realize he actually has a chance of making it happen.

"I can't do that alone, despite my many, many talents, and if you didn't notice, we had something of an alliance going on at one point. I help you in there, you help me out here. Plain enough for you?"