He waves his hand. "Don't worry about it. I'm learning enough with the letters, even if it's weird going through pen and paper like this. Trolls didn't have mail, and now I'm earning merit badges and whatever other rewards for it like a barkfiend getting treats. And of course I'm not allowed to swear even a little in them." His eyes roll. "Not even to the Capitol fan I write to, who would expect it, especially when it's what I'm known for," he says, pronouncing each word carefully like she might somehow be listening in.

With a sigh, he lets his posture slump. "But here I am, talking about inane junk while we wait for your thing to bake." His gaze slips over. "Obviously we're killing time here. What about your past? Want to leave me to see the Capitol take when your Victor Reel comes up, or can I ask? I never did bother to watch your arena. Not beyond maybe a glance that time before the snowy one."

He'd peeked through several back then, not stopping long enough to note participants, but looking more for environmental clues. The one time Linden had told him to look, they had been in the middle of an argument, besides.