Day off Morning
June's alliance go to an adult ball pit within a shopping center and start to play around. They decide to play a mini, no death Hunger Games but the pairs they split into can't be their real ones so they draw straws. Althea is placed with June, which Mikeo notes she seems nervous about, Niko with Frederick, much to Frederick's disgust and Mikeo with Akhal.
Althea knocked out after she screams while in the ghost house, alerting Niko to where she was hiding. Frederick finds June soon after, knocking her out of the running.
For hours, Niko and Frederick can't find Mikeo and Akhal, leading them to have a very silent tea break with each other. However, when walking through the ball pit, Niko is attacked by Akhal, after he is pulled down into the balls. Akhal and Mikeo dart from under the balls where they had been hiding. Frederick chases them down, takes Mikeo out while he is running and then pins Akhal to the floor, boasting about how he won, he killed her but Mikeo points out as they were the final two, they would both have to win and "do the do" (which Mikeo says in a high pitched, girly voice). This causes Akhal to start laughing and soon she and Mikeo can breathe as they laugh from each other laugh, much to the dismay of Niko and June.
Meanwhile, Althea tells a flustered Frederick, rather sternly, not to take the game they just played so seriously, it was for fun. Frederick is shocked by her tone of voice and turns to tell her off, only to be stared down by Niko.
Day off Afternoon:
After spending the morning playing laser tag, Qanom and Hyacinth go back to their room where Qanom talks about who he has slept with. It isn't a lot but more than Hyacinth who admits he is a virgin. Hyacinth admits he is more ashamed of that than he is of being gay, in fact, his sexuality doesn't bother him as much as it did. He even says he has never touched a person in a sexual way, no matter the gender.
Qanom jokes about he could change all of that for him as a joke by Hyacinth takes it seriously and says he would want to. Admitting he is being driven by attraction, the fear of death and the moment, Qanom agrees he wants to do it and the two have sex.
Invida and Beckham decided to stay in, ordering an array of sweets and fatty foods and a large stack of Capitol films. Since sunrise they sat there, both getting excited about the new flavors and effects within the films.
Once their food was finished and the last film came to a close, the pair flopped onto the bed, talking about what food they wanted next. Invida says she is full but Beckham laughs, pointing out that they have an unlimited tab and only one day of relaxation, they had to think of something.
When Beckham turns to face the girl again, she quickly places a kiss on his lips. She tries to turn it out into a make-out session but Beckham pulls away. Hurt Invida asks him if she did something wrong. Beckham lies and says he just wasn't ready.
Invida admits that she is a virgin and she swore she would never have sex until marriage but she has also never met a guy like Beckham. Meanwhile, Beckham feels sick as he knows where is going. Invida undoes the buttons on her top and asks if she can take the boy up on his earlier offer.
Worried about what she might do if he says no or admits he is asexual, Beckham agrees and the pair have sex.
Afterward, Beckham goes for a walk, to a secluded place where he can cry. However, he is not crying that he had sex, he is crying because he feels bad for Invida. He admits to himself he truly likes the girl but as a friend and knows she likes him more than that. He knows she will be crushed when she finds out he doesn't like her and worries she may blame herself for forcing him to do it with her. He also feels bad as Invida thinks she has lost her virginity to the "perfect guy" who likes her back when in reality, she lost it to a frightened guy who wasn't even mentally present during the act and only did it to survive. He admits he can pretend he loves her for the rest of the Games but couldn't keep lying to her afterward. For this reason, he feels he doesn't want to win with her and would rather win with someone he doesn't know and won't mind leading on or hurting.
After getting on so well earlier by the plant station, Laura decides to take Linden out for a meal, something she can only do as the restaurant will accept the free publicity. They go to a small Italian style place where Liden has a carbonara and Laura has a pizza.
Over the candlelit meal in the perfect location under some fairy lights, Liden admits that he is really glad he was placed with her and he feels they will make a good team. Laura agrees. She wants to kiss him but worries he doesn't feel the same way.
Day off Evening:
Niko decides to take Akhal out to a bar to try and get to know her better. They go to a small pub, away from the paparazzi and gets an unlimited bar tab.
Niko started the conversation off with a shy Akhal about talking about his fishing days and what went into a day's work. The girl seemed lost until he mentioned seagulls and how much he disliked them. Akhal said she had never seen one but they were doing nothing but trying to survive and she found it smart that they followed the boat for easy food. Niko had to admit he had never viewed them that way and after that, the drinks started to flow.
They spent the full night talking and with every drink, they became more intoxicated. By sunrise, the pair had become closer, found many things in common, no matter how small, and were found by Finnick sat by a fountain singing childhood rhymes at the top of their lungs. As Niko looked at Akhal in the early morning sunrise, he saw her in a different light. A fuzzy warm light that glowed within him.
The same night, Andrew took Chrisjen to the largest library in Panem for a quiet night of reading, something Chrisjen appreciated. The pair spent the night reading books the other knew from back home and even reading about their home Districts. They stayed like that, only speaking to recommend books when Andrew spoke.
Nervously but impulsive, he admitted that Chrisjen was the type of girl he would have dated back home. That she would have been liked by his parents if they were still alive. She is the type of girl they would have wanted him to end up with.
Chrisjen who had put her book down to listen smiled, saying her family would love Andrew, that her father was no doubt planning their wedding now. The two sat in silence for a moment more before leaning in for a kiss.
As an apology, Stefen takes Violet to the roof of the Tribute center to see the stars as she mentioned she liked them. As she starts to name the stars, it becomes apparent that Stefan is far more interested in cuddling that listening to her. So she gives in.
She allows Stefan to hug her and talk about his own life but refuses to allow it to go further. However, as they cuddle, her mind couldn't help but revert back to her time with Beckham on the train when she showed him the stars and he really seemed to care. A time when she felt safe. Then, like a winding punch to the stomach, it hit her. A horrifying, warm feeling she hoped she would never feel for the boy. She had fallen for Beckham long before she arrived at the Capitol.
Ball (An event where reporters can get exclusive interviews)
Just as Capitol reporters flooded the room, Akhal and Niko find a small corner of the room and dance with each other to the low music. Still confused by his feelings from that morning and his head hurting slightly from the hangover, he found himself watching Akhal dance, her head on her shoulder more out of it hurting that love but it still felt nice. Not knowing how to dance, Niko made sure not to make any sharp movements as he tried to find a way of knowing how Akhal felt. Then the thought of kissing popped into his mind.
At first, he went to shrug it off but it did make sense. Sure, it was awkward if she pulled away but if she wanted it too, it was a sure sign she liked him back. However, as he was about to make his move, the pair were cornered by Paisley and Ezra.
As if demanding rather than asking permission, Ezra asked Akhal if she wanted to dance and Paisley held her hand out to Niko. Akhal and Niko shared a worrying glance with each other before accepting the Career's offers and being whisked away to other corners of the room.
While dancing, Paisley approached the idea of Niko allying with the Careers. Niko seemed up for it until she mentioned the clause of killing off Akhal first. Paisley deeming her too weak, weaker than Beckham and Violet.
Niko refuses, saying he won't kill Akhal. Paisley scoffs, finding it humorous he would risk the Games for a girl. But Niko points out she and Ezra are no different.
Meanwhile, Ezra compliments Akhal on her tight fitting, diamond blue dress. Unsure if he was telling the truth, she asks why he would say that. Ezra says it is because she will die soon anyway, he has no reason to lie, he honestly does like the dress. Akhal sarcastically thanks him for saying she will die. Ezra seems slightly amused by the comment. He says it is nothing personal, just the truth. He says she seems like a nice girl and away from the Games, he would most likely have nothing to do with her. He assures her that he will make sure her death is quick and she doesn't feel much. Akhal doesn't believe him, raising a brow. Ezra laughs as the dance finishes and he starts to walk over to Paisley again. He assures Akhal he isn't a monster, that everyone has their reasons for killing. As she stands alone on the dance floor, Frederick finds her and says they need to talk.
Broken from the previous events, Beckham finds Violet and tells her he needs to tell her something. Violet says the same. Beckham goes first, telling about his sex with Invida and his asexuality, leaving him not knowing what to do. Violet is crushed that he slept with Invida but understands he is upset so pushes her own emotions aside. After comforting him for a bit, Beckham is called over by Invida and says goodbye to Violet.
As she turns to walk away, Stefan pulls her away from the party and whispers for her to tell him everything Beckham just said, saying he knows she likes him.
As Frederick and Akhal stand by the punch bowl, Frederick asks if she even remembers about when he worked on their farm. Instead of answering, Akhal asks him why he is doing what he is doing. Frederick is just happy to know she remembers, referring back to the meeting with the Tributes when she said she didn't recognize him. He then admits he wasn't too bothered about it but they need to go home together. Akhal hisses that it was in the past, that they were children and Frederick was just being cruel bringing it up now.
Frederick instead just asks her if she remembers what happened and if she would do it again. Akhal turns to walk away but Frederick grabs her arm, apologizing for taking it too far. Akhal pulls away from his grip and admits she likes Niko and begs for Frederick not to screw it up for her.
Noelani confronts Qanom about him and Hyacinth being in alliance with her and Ellie. She tells the boy she knows of their plan. However, Qanom points out if they are protecting the girls, there would be no point of an alliance. So instead, the two decide to form a truce. Neither pair can kill the other unless it is the final four.
Away from anything, down an empty hallway, Psyche tries to convince Rory to go into the ball. The boy refuses to say it is all a publicity stunt and that he would rather be there with her. The pair expresses their worry when it comes to the Games. Rory says maybe if he dies, it will be for the best. Psyche tells him that even if she is the only one, she wants him alive. The pair kiss but Rory worries it was the wrong move afterward.
Stefan, after finding out about Beckham's asexuality and his concern that Violet and Beckham will re-pair and kill her, seeks out Invidia. However, no matter how hard he tries, Invida is too busy dancing with Beckham to speak to him.