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."

[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]

"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."

[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]

"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."

[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.

[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."

[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.

[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."

[x5452]

"Well, I'm not useless." Max says mildly, shrugging and watching the screen. Finnick's world is not the same as it was before the Capitol started pulling people from other realities. Max operates under an essential truth universal: adapt or die.

Under her breath, she adds, "In any arena."

The corner of her mouth quirks in amusement.

"You my press manager now?"

[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?"

[knottherapy]

"It wouldn't hurt to have one." he smirks now when he speaks to her. "You do have a stylist, don't you?" That was one critical thing to have in the Capitol. It was no wonder that the stylists made a killing during the Games, but with these endless ones its a fortune to be had.

[x5452]

She laughs at something, and then just shakes her head. "Yeah, Cheekbones. I have a stylist. I'm doing alright. But since you seem to be in the mood to dispense wisdom to the masses, anything else you want to share?"

[knottherapy]

Finnick chuckled, "Ah, well how are you doing getting sponsors? Being one of the first foreign tributes to become a victor I don't imagine its hard to get people here to take interested." He pauses and smirks at her. "Doesn't hurt that you're attractive as well."

[x5452]

"People here are interested enough. So far I'm giving the government my best foot forward, so they're inclined to keep me in shiny things and caviar. But I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop."

At his last statement and smirk, she gives him one right back. "Almost as attractive as you, Cheekbones?"

[knottherapy]

"Almost." He grins playfully and winked to her. "Its a gift and a curse being this pretty." At that it was hard to tell if he was joking or being serious as he acted as though he was admiring himself in a mirror. "I just hope no one has asked you to do anything...against your morals." he said this so casually it would have gone over someone's head that he was speaking of prostitution and the like. That, of course, was the point.

[x5452]

"What, you mean like force me to hunt down other people I don't even know and kill them for sport and entertainment?" says Max wryly. "Oh don't worry, I'm over that part." Yeah, right.

But no, no one's told her about the whole buy a Victor for an evening program. Until now. Good job, Finnick!

"I get that's not what you mean, though." she says, peering at him warily. "What do you mean?"

[knottherapy]

He chuckles softly realizing that she didn't catch his drift. "Well, sometimes the more attractive victors are used as favors." He paused, speaking softer now so that only she could hear. "Party favors. By the wealthier citizens of this fine city."

"Only looking out for you." His voice returned to normal and he flashed her a smile as if to signal to anyone around that everything was peachy keen with them. "It may never come up for you, but well, many victors have experienced it. Its usually in your best interest to go along with such events, but then again you don't have family here so no one can really be used against you." Like Johanna. "Its a unique stance actually- I would use it to my advantage if I were you."

[x5452]

Max's eyes half-lid with regard to not having family. This is true, but there are other people in Panem that Max cares about.

"I'll keep that in mind. So far no one has approached me about anything like that." Max's tone is perfectly pleasant. It's not Finnick's fault this is happening, after all.

"I'm sorry." she says, under her breath, eyes back on the screen.

[knottherapy]

"For what?" he smiles to her as if they weren't talking about something awful. Of course he isn't about to admit guilt or any association that such things may have happened to him. It will be obvious enough when she puts two and two together with his reputation. This is certainly something he doesn't share with anyone who isn't a victor and possibly in danger of becoming what he is.

"Just a heads up is all." he waves the topic away and continues to smile to Max.