Eva's grip, by contrast, is strong. She has many different handshakes, the weak and passive one she uses with the Sponsors and the more assertive one she uses to communicate, silently, with Tributes and with potential allies. For all their cameras and microphones, the subtleties of human touch are one of the last unbreakable codes to the Capitol.

"Yes, you're allowed to talk to the Mentors. I'm on a short enough leash that they don't really care whose rear I'm sniffing." As long as she isn't barking too loud. She cranes her neck and leans to the side, assessing Daniel's posterior, then shrugs noncommittally with an ambivalent "hmm!".

"Anyway, obviously I'm biased towards my own District's offerings, but that's a less compelling interest ever since we stopped drawing by lot and started importing our entertainment, and many of the other Victors feel the same way."

She sizes Daniel up again. Tall, but not a particularly sturdy build. Nearsighted, and is that redness in her eyes allergies? He doesn't exactly hold himself like a prizefighter so much as someone who stoops over manuscripts and field excavations. "No offense, but you're going to want all the help you can get. I'd actually encourage you to talk to everyone you can. Make an impression, at least."