OTA

[knottherapy]

WHO| Finnick Odair & YOU!
WHAT| Watching the start of the new Games
WHEN| Cornucopia Bloodbath
WHERE| Green Room
WARNING/NOTES| None

Finnick blinked a few times as the images flashed on the large screen. His eyes narrowed as if trying to focus on something he didn't believe was right in front of him.

That had been his trident out there in the arena once again. His initials and Game number were etched into it. It had been a hot item after he won his own Games - the most expensive gift a sponsor had ever given a tribute in the arena. He had gone down in history for that alone. Several wealthy citizens of the Capitol had told him it was them who had sent it- who had saved his life- but it was through President Snow that he learned who the real sponsor had been. That was when they found it beneficial to "give" him to that person. Even for just one night it had been the start of something horrible for Finnick Odair that even to this day he would have to play up.

Finnick was surrounded by other victors watching their new tributes in the greenroom. It was still strange to see the tributes return once they had died on screen. However seeing his trident out there, to be used to "kill" innocent people, well he was going to need a stiffer drink.

Comments

[x5452]

Max made into the Green Room just in time, and leans forward to watch the opening moments intently. She's looking for a few Tributes, and they're easy to guess: Tony, Eliot, Don, maybe a couple others.

She doesn't shy away from the display of the initial bloodbath, but as she sees people go down, her expression transforms into something bitter and regretful.

With a sigh, she realizes she needs a drink. Looking over at Finnick, she gives him a nod, and offers in a murmur, "I was hoping Annie would be here, but I'm guessing this isn't the sort of thing she'd do very well with, is it." Not really a question at all.

[knottherapy]

Finnick knew Annie had been socializing a bit more, but he would admit it was surprising to hear her name be the first thing out of Max's mouth, "No, she doesn't like to watch the beginning." Everyone knew it was truly the worse part of the Games. Or the best, depending on who you were. "So I come and do it for her." He made it sound like he returned and reported it to his fellow mentor. He never spoke of the Games to Annie unless she asked.

"Glad you're not out there?" His eyes turn to her, but his face keeps toward the screen. "It would be a difficult arena for someone who couldn't swim." He hasn't a clue if Max can, but he wouldn't doubt it.

[x5452]

Max's own eyes are riveted to the screen; her feelings are convoluted.

"I'm not sure." she admits. "I'm glad to have won, but the consequences are different...and better me than some poor innocent who's been ripped from their own reality and doesn't know what the hell's going on. So I just don't know."

"Could you tell her that I'm looking forward to our Girls Night?" Max seems quick to change topics. "I'd invite you, but you know, wrong equipment."

[knottherapy]

"For what its worth, knowing what is going on isn't any more of a comfort." Finnick spoke of the years of tributes that had come from Four knowing full well what they were in for and the terror in their faces when they were each reaped.

Finnick eyebrows raised when she mentioned a Girls Night with Annie. "A Girls Night?" It wasn't so much the event that struck him as odd, it was that they were in the Capitol. "Are these some sort of plans?" He would agree that Annie could do to get out of the district suite and socialize with someone who had survived what she had. However Finnick was still protective of his secret girlfriend and wondered if Max really knew what she was suggesting. "You two aren't planning to go to the clubs or anything, are you?" Loud noises easily triggered some of Annie's upsets. "Those are rather loud and flashy. Not her thing."

[x5452]

"I know." Max says without any real rancor. "We were just going to hang out. Annie doesn't have enough friends and neither do I. I think she's brave." She leaves it at that.

She looks back up at the screen. "They still suffer. They're still afraid. It's still a hard question to answer. I can't figure out the line between being grateful I'm done and being frustrated that other people are being forced to take my place yet."

[knottherapy]

Its that sort of kindness to Annie that has Finnick interested in Max. It could easily be a trick, however Max had seemed to proven herself a valued asset - an ally and not a foe. Still, one couldn't be too careful. "Its a shame I don't have the parts as you said." Although actual girl friends wouldn't be a bad thing for Annie, he would have just have wanted her to have some outside of the Capitol. At least Max wasn't trying to use her to get to him, he'd seen that act pulled far too many times.

"I'll let her know." He sips his drink, focusing still on the screen.

"Its an awful position to be in, isn't it?" He smiled a little hearing her speak like a true victor of the Games. "Try being in it for 10 years. You learn to cope-" He gestures towards a camera without even looking at it. "Never forget that you're still performing."

[x5452]

"You know, you really need to get in the habit of not assuming that your experience is unique. I was a performing lab monkey during the first twelve years of my life." Max's expression goes flat as she watches the screen.

"I may not have had to perform for millions, but I had to perform. And if I wasn't up to par, if I had been very lucky, I might have been shot. If not, I'd have ended up on the vivisection table so the scientists could figure out what went wrong."

[knottherapy]

"I suppose I really need to get into the habit of realizing that people from other worlds even exist." he pointed out. "I don't suppose many of us come into your realm often."

"I wouldn't advertise that fact, it makes you sound like a muttation, which is certainly not something you want people to know here." He paused as he watched two tributes fight over a bag. "Strictly speaking for your own safety."

[x5452]

"The public already knows." Max points out. "Besides, if they've openly embraced Donatello and that Bunny Rabbit guy, I think my itty bitty bit of kitty genes isn't going to phase them at this point."

[knottherapy]

"Just remember, the Capitol loves perfection - the mutts and freaks are just pawns in all of this. They won't last as long as you will if they think they're useless." Just years of experience speaking. "In the other arena, that is." he speaks with his eyes wandering to see if anyone is listening or watching them. She hopefully had been around enough to realize what he is referring to.

"Just keep mingling- it won't hurt to keep them liking you."

[punchdrunkvictory]

He, like many of the older victors, didn't fail to miss the shiny trident offered up at the Cornucopia. And for some reason, Haymitch had a hunch that it wasn't just there for shits and giggles.

So he decided to visit the man of the hour. Well, at least sort of. The Gamemakers had made him that. And it didn't sit well with him. He frowned at the screen, standing and making his way over to the other victor. He collapsed back into one of the comfortable chairs, taking a glance at the screen, commentary for the bloodbath in full swing, "Seems like they got a real treasure in there."

[knottherapy]

Finnick heard Haymitch fall into the chair before he saw him. "It would seem they do." His eyes were focused on the screen, hands folded and watching the trident, seeing if anyone was going to manage to get it. "However the real question is if anyone in there knows how to use it." It had been common knowledge that Finnick had not only won his Games because of the weapon, but due to his great skill in wielding it.

"If tributes who were actually from Four were in there- they'd have a huge advantage."

[x5452]

From her seat, Max sips her beer and watches the screen. "What's the message you think they're trying to send?" she asks of Haymitch. The old guy's been around, after all.

Oh my god I'm so sorry

[punchdrunkvictory]

Not a message to any of the new tributes that for sure. It was one for the old timers. A warning maybe? You were in here once and we could put you in here again?

Nah couldn't be that.

"Just a reminder to the old Victors probably," he murmurs, frowning at the screen and straightening up a bit.

Its ok hon!`

[knottherapy]

"A reminder." Finnick repeated. It certainly was directed to him if not all of the victors.

His eyes were still focused on it to see if anyone would snatch the trident. No one did. They probably had no idea how to wield it. A trident wasn't a spear. Or at least your normal spear. It did require some skill that was more than aim and throw because of how it's weight was distributed.

"Or just a hard jab." he said this softly enough that only the other victors could hear.

[nofunandgames]

"You look like you could use this."

If they had to mentor sober, they'd all be done for. The one kindness the Capitol shown was how easily the alcohol flowed.

Or perhaps that wasn't a kindness.

But it certainly helped you get through the Games. For some of them, mucch more than the Games

Sitting, he handed Finnick a drink.

[knottherapy]

Finnick looked over at Elias when he heard his voice, accepting the drink with a nod of gratitude. "I'm losing my poker face it'd seem."

He took a long swig of the drink before wetting his lips in a very not-sexy manner. Rather his body language would speak to his irritation.

"Can you believe this?" he says staring at the screen after a moment. "What's your take on," he nods his head to the screen, suggesting the trident. "That?"

[nofunandgames]

"Emotional manipulation. Trying to remind the district that these are their games. Tie this all back to tradition."

His voice was quiet, reflective. The caution of not speaking against the Capitol was beginning to sway. It was to exhausting to always be on eggshells.

And it wasn't like he was wrong.

[knottherapy]

"It's an art, isn't it?" And the Capitol was a professional. Finnick just shook his head, eyes locked on the screen. "Messing with people's heads. Really takes skill to do it this damn well."

If there was one thing Finnick appreciated about Elias was that they seemed to always be on the same page in what they talked about as well as what they didn't say.

[nofunandgames]

Elias nodded, quietly, considering.

"This is for us." He finally added. The new Tributes didn't know what that trident meant. And the Capitol, even the Districts, probably only saw it as a little wink and nudge. To them it was a warning.

[knottherapy]

The question was what did it mean. What were they poking at? They already had control over everyone. Eyes on everything.

"Well maybe they want a conversation." he smirked. He had heard things brewing in the whispers, in the rumors and secrets he was collecting. "Maybe we ought to reply."

[nofunandgames]

Elias arched a brow at Finnick.

He has heard bits and piece too. Growing murmurers. Ones that were starting to be more that unhappy grumblings.

And he was starting to feel it pulling at him again, too.

"Yeah?" He glanced around, to see how likely they would be over heard. "I'm thinking I might have a few things to say myself."

[knottherapy]

The corner of Finnick's mouth pulled up, "Don't we all." After all the Capitol had put them through. His eyes slid around the room, seeing Haymitch and Johanna, Max- all victors who had something to say if they had the opportunity.

He threw back the rest of his drink, knowing he would soon need to search for another. "Just need...a voice."

[nofunandgames]

A voice.

He pursed his lips, the thought of Katniss Everdeen front and center once again. The girl who had managed to vanish so neatly. Amy, too, had vanished just as fast.

Was she dead? If so they had done it so smoothly the Capitol wasn't up in arms about their starcrossed lovers vanishing.

"Our last songbird didn't last too long." He said softly.

[knottherapy]

"Well some of us they can't make just...disappear." he looked at Elias out oft he corner of his eye, not turning his face away from the screens. His voice not reaching far. "People would...noticed." Of course Finnick wasn't entirely volunteering himself, but it was a valid point that some were more popular and better know to the citizens of the Capitol.