Disclaimer: I do not own The Hunger Games
Night had fallen over the Capitol, and the city shone like a beacon in the night; so bright it drowned out the twinkling brilliance of the stars above.
From her vantage point on the penthouse roof, Joanna gave a snort of disgust.
"Can't sleep?" a voice suddenly said from behind.
Years of carefully honed reflexes and disguised emotions served her well now, as she turned around without showing any signs of surprise.
"Odair," she said dispassionately.
"Hello my fellow insomniac," Finnick said with his signature grin, "care for company?"
"No," came the blunt reply.
"Oh, how you wound my heart," Finnick said, clutching his chest dramatically.
"Knock it off Odair," Joanna said as she rolled her eyes.
Ignoring her obvious dismissal, Finnick leaned against the railing next to Joanna, and both were silent for a long time.
"It's such a waste isn't it?" Finnick remarked offhandedly, and Joanna shot him a questioning glance.
"I mean," Finnick elaborated, gesturing at the sprawling city below, "look at all these lights, the electricity used in one night could power a whole district for a year, maybe more."
"True. It's amazing, how these foolish people spend their days up to their necks in luxury while others break their backs out in the districts. It disgusts me."
"Does that not apply to us too?" Finnick questioned softly.
"Explain."
"Ever since we 'won' the Games, what have we done that was worth doing? We're entertainment for the Capitol people you hold in such contempt."
"You make a valid point, but we don't have a choice."
"And they do?"
The pair fell silent once more. Had a guard seen them on the roof, both would have been severely penalized and warned for fraternizing with other tributes outside of training and the Games; but the threat of punishment did not bother them, nor were they discovered.
Finally, Finnick ventured to speak again, "So what are you going to do?"
"Me?" Joanna murmured softly, "Nothing I suppose…"
"Hey, hey, where did all that fire and spirit go?" Finnick asked jokingly, "You're Mason, the angry one, not the passive and accepting."
"Fire?" Joanna mused, "perhaps I passed it on to that girl. What's her name again?"
"Katniss. Katniss Everdeen."
"Yeah, her. They call her the Girl on Fire don't they?"
"Yep, she's all the rage in the Capitol nowadays."
"Figures. I'd feel sorry for the girl if I cared. So much rests upon her, yet she has no idea - "
"Mason," Finnick snapped, his eyes full of warning.
"Oh calm down would you, it's not as if the Capitol will hear, and the Everdeen girl - "
"Joanna!"
"Okay, okay, geez."
The two ceased to talk as they gazed out into the inky night sky. Below them, some lights winked out as their owners went to sleep, a chilling warning of what was to come.
"Well, either way, I guess we'll just have to wait and see."
"Yeah, I suppose, good night Odair."
"Good night Mason."
"See you in the arena?"
"Of course."