Annie receives an envelope, sealed with the Panem emblem on the sixteenth Tuesday before the Reaping. She doesn't hesitate to slide her finger under the cool, red wax and jerk the letter from it's encasing despite Finnick's reserve; or when she declares she will take up her duties as a Mentor. It's what Victors do.
Annie takes her role very seriously, greeting her tribute stoically and addressing the straight-laced Tribute only when needed. The first words she speaks when stepping off the train are with the stylist, plotting a strategy that will bring The Girl home. And when Training Week passes and she sits before the monitors of the District 4 station in Mentor Central, Annie says a word to no one. There is no need, she's not here to make friends.
But the boisterous sounds of cannons firing, drunken slurs and hollow laughs has her hyper aware that this is not just a place of business. It's much like a clubhouse for all the victors to congregate once a year. It is almost sweet.
"So, those are your friends." Annie turns to Finnick the moment they settle in the District 4 suite of the Training Center. A long first day in the arena has passed with both their tributes barely grazed by the knives being thrown at the Cornucopia.
"Don't let them intimidate you, they're good people," Finnick says with a weak smile.
Annie hums in reply, eyes rolling up to the ceiling. If you told her twelve months ago she would live to see these walls again, she wouldn't believe you. Her eyes snap downwards and lay rest on her shaking hands. Clasping them over one another, she focuses on her breathing.
"Y'know, they can be your friends too now." Finnick slides a little closer, his hand clutching at the leather backing of the couch a little tighter. Annie eyes him in her peripheral.
"That's alright, you and Mags are enough," she says with a shrug, putting another inch of space between him. He's caught off guard by her words, frozen as the weight of their meaning churns and settles.
Reaching out across the cushions, Finnick plucks her hands out from around one another to sift his fingers through her own and gives her hand a gentle squeeze. "Just don't shut them out okay? They can help."
Help with what she doesn't know but Annie nods as she squeezes his hand back.
When she walks back into Mentor Central the following day, Finnick on her heels, she greets Wiress and Beetee with a soft hello before settling into her worn leather chair. The smile that stretches across Finnick's face when Annie turns to look at him is brighter than she has ever seen. She wasn't here to make anymore friends but it wouldn't hurt to make the ones she has happy.
