It's not unusual for Peacekeepers to visit the Ministry, but it's nearly unheard of for offworlders. Ministers and former Tributes simply don't move in the same circles; the divide is even starker than it is between Capitolites and Avoxes, at least in terms of who may end up in the same room as another if nothing else.

Tom's aware that he's flouting convention when he goes to see Stephen at his office. It's not that he doesn't know the rules of the world he's spent more than a year in. But still, he acts as if there's no reason it would be odd for him to be showing up.

"Good morning, lad." He raps at the doorway of Stephen's office. "Keeping yourself hard at work?"