#&(finnick)

[cfdew]

@seasaltsurvivor

This year was not going to plan. She'd been at the Academy only a few weeks before to hear that they had two strong competitors, yet neither had actually volunteered and now she had come into the games for the second time in as many years with a fifteen year old kid. She hadn't had high hopes, they were young and they didn't shine the way Finnick had, they were meek... But it didn't make the loss of the tribute any easier to watch, even over twenty years after her own victory.

Her glass was sat aside as she stood up quickly from her seat in the lobby. She'd been meeting with a sponsor just moments before, trying to secure more funds for her tributes. But the canon had rang out and her eyes had found the screen just before the realization hit her. Shit Finn... She needed to find him. She could still remember that first loss, knew the hurt and self-blame as if she had been responsible. She needed to make sure he was okay.

She'd almost expected to find Mags at his side already when she found him, but instead she'd found him alone. "Finn," her voice was soft, caring, so as not to startle him as she quietly stepped further onto their floor, "I'm here if you want to talk." She wouldn't ask if he was okay. She doubted he was. But she'd offer her shoulder, a listening ear, someone who knew what he was going through.

[hvbris]

@itsacrowd​ sent: I think you handled that very well. Finnick to Effie from: 𝐃𝐎  𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐍𝐆𝐄

“Oh, do you really think so?” asked Effie with the air of someone relieved that her talents were finally recognized and appreciated, “thank you Finnick.” She gave the victor a genuine smile, though it was hard to tell under the thick coat of lipstick. 

“Sometimes I think the tributes from 12 just want to embarrass me,” she quickly complained, “I try my best to salvage what I can, but if only they could just behave properly.” She even allowed herself a little sigh of despair, shaking her head like a disappointed mother.

[hvbris]

@itsacrowd​ sent: what did you think was gonna happen ?! Finnick @ April from:   ↪     𝑴𝑶𝑹𝑩𝑰𝑫 ᶜᵘʳᶤᵒˢᶤᵗʸ .  

“I don’t know,” huffed April, “I was trying to help.” But in reality, what had she hoped to accomplish? Capitol or not, she was just a kid, and there wasn’t much she could do. Even her newspaper was nothing but an illusion of free-will. In reality, every word she wrote was checked and watched. And at the first misstep, she could find herself without a tongue, without freedom, without status. 

[hvbris]

@itsacrowd​ sent: isn’t this amazing ? Finnick to Ceasar from:  ↪     𝑴𝑶𝑹𝑩𝑰𝑫 ᶜᵘʳᶤᵒˢᶤᵗʸ .

An exclamation of joy, boastful and yet cordial. Caesar, as usual, was a master at these things. The perfectly measured extravagance, the charming cheerfulness. And when needed, a respectful gravitas. But for now, the time was one of celebration. 

“Amazing indeed, Finnick Odair! What a victory you had!” a hand was placed on the boy’s shoulder, giving it a friendly (almost paternal) pat, “how are you feeling now? Happy I assume!”